The athletics fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the death of the Chicago Marathon World Record Holder, Kelvin Kiptum, in a road accident on Sunday night at Kaptagat Forest Area, along the Eldoret-Ravine road.
The marathoner and his Rwandese Coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died on the spot, while a passenger, Sharon Chepkurui, escaped with serious injuries and was rushed and hospitalised at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
According to Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander, Peter Mulinge, Kiptum was driving his car, a Toyota Premio, from Eldoret heading to Ravine when he lost control and veered off the road, and entered into a ditch.
Mulinge said he drove in the ditch for about 60 metres before hitting a tree, and upon impact, the athlete and his coach died immediately.
Police visited the scene and took the bodies to the Racecourse Hospital mortuary in Eldoret, to await an autopsy, while the extensively damaged vehicle was towed to Kaptagat Police Station.
The 24-year-old athlete died at the peak of his career, being the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and having run three of the seven fastest marathons in history.
By Alice Wanjiru
“World Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum Dies – Kenya News Agency,” Kenyanews.go.ke, February 12, 2024, https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dies/.
