Running News Daily

Kenyan middle-distance star Gladys Chepngetich of Clemson University produced a historic performance at the 2026 John Thomas Terrier Classic, delivering a run that resonated far beyond a single race and rewrote multiple chapters of the record books.

Chepngetich finished third in a blisteringly fast women’s 800 meters, stopping the clock at 1:58.81. She finished behind Britain’s Isabelle Boffey, who won the race in 1:57.43, and American standout Roisin Willis, who claimed second place in 1:57.97, in what became one of the fastest indoor 800m races ever assembled.

While the podium position reflected the depth of the field, the time itself carried historic weight. Chepngetich’s 1:58.81 shattered Kenya’s national indoor 800m record, eclipsing the long-standing mark of 1:58.83 set by Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo on March 11, 2012. The record had stood untouched for 13 years, making Chepngetich’s achievement a defining moment for Kenyan middle-distance running.

The performance also propelled her into elite collegiate company. Her time now ranks as the second-fastest indoor 800 meters in NCAA history, surpassed only by Athing Mu’s iconic 1:58.40. In a single race, Chepngetich vaulted from 24th on the NCAA all-time list to second, a dramatic rise that underscores just how exceptional the run was.

Competing on a fast indoor track against world-class opposition, the Clemson Tiger displayed tactical intelligence and composure. She stayed controlled through the early stages, responded decisively when the pace surged, and closed strongly—hallmarks of an athlete ready for the highest levels of competition.

Pamela Jelimo’s record once symbolized a golden era of Kenyan dominance in the 800 meters. By surpassing it, Chepngetich has not erased that legacy but extended it, blending Kenya’s rich middle-distance tradition with the growing influence of NCAA competition on the global stage.

With the 2026 season still unfolding, Gladys Chepngetich’s breakthrough signals more than just a record—it announces the arrival of a new force in women’s middle-distance running, one now firmly etched into both Kenyan and NCAA history.