In tragic development, marathon world record holder from Kenya, Kelvin Kiptum has d!ed.
24-year-old Kelvin Kiptum passed away on Sunday night after being involved in a horrific car accident in Kenya.
Kelvin Kiptum perished alongside his coach who was with him in the car when the accident happened.
Elgeyo-Marakwet County Police Cmdr. Peter Mulinge confirmed the incident which happened at around 11 pm.
According to Washington Post, Kelvin Kiptum was driving his Toyota Premio in western Kenya, not far from his childhood village, when he veered off the road and hit a tree.
Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, 37, were both k!lled in the accident, and a 24-year-old woman identified as Sharon Kosgey suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, he said. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
In October, Kiptum achieved international recognition when he secured victory in the Chicago Marathon with a remarkable time of 2 hours and 35 seconds, becoming the first man to complete an official race in under 2 hours and 1 minute. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by fellow Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge, making Kiptum a prominent figure in the running world.
Looking ahead, Kiptum had set his sights on the Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands scheduled for April. With his ambitious goal of completing the race in under two hours, he aimed to push the boundaries of his capabilities even further. Additionally, he had his sights set on participating in the upcoming Paris Olympics, anticipating an opportunity to showcase his exceptional running abilities on the global stage.
“I have just started my training, and I hope to go there and do my best,” he told World Athletics in an interview published in December. “Maybe to beat my time. I think I try each time to push my limit
Source IHarare
