The country has been thrown into mourning following the death of one of its most promising athlete and marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum.
24-year-old Kiptum died alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a tragic road accident along the Eldoret-Kaptagat road.
According to police, Kiptum was driving the vehicle in the company of his coach and a female passenger when he lost control of the vehicle before veering off the road and hitting a tree.
Kiptum and his coach are said to have died on the spot while the lady passenger was rushed to Racecourse hospital in Eldoret town. Kiptum’s body and that of his coach were moved to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital even as investigations into the crash were launched.
Kiptum marathon record of two hours and 35 seconds, set during last year’s Chicago marathon was ratified a week ago with his team announcing that he was to attempt to run the distance in under two hours at the Rotterdam marathon, a feat that has never been achieved in open competition.
The death of Kiptum brings back memories of Samuel Wanjiru’s death, yet another promising Kenyan marathoner and the 2008 Olympic champion, who also died at the age of 24 years.
Wanjiru died from injuries sustained after a fall from a balcony at his home in Nyahururu on May 11 2011 in unclear circumstances that saw an inquest into his death launched.
One of the most talented long-distance runners of his generation, Wanjiru will be most remembered for his remarkable victory at the 2008 Olympic Games where he became Kenya’s first Olympic champion in the Marathon crossing the finish line at the Bird’s Nest stadium in 2:06:32, in a feat that saw him become the youngest Olympic marathon champion.
