Kenya’s Marathon World record holder Kelvin Kiptum, 24, was killed in a traffic accident on Sunday.
The runner reportedly drove into a huge tree while driving near Kaptagat in Southwest Kenya, a place used as a training base for long-distance runners.
Also riding with Kelvin Kiptum was his coach, 37-year-old Gervais Hakizimana of Rwanda nationality, who later died after the crash, and Sharon Chepkemoi, 32, who survived the accident.
A first responder at the crash, Kenneth Kimaiyo and old friend of the deceased, stated that the runner’s body was lifeless under the vehicle, while his coach was found still alive on a hill nearby.
According to reports, Kelvin Kiptum lost control along the Eldama Ravine-Eldoret while driving from Eldret in the county of Uasin Gishu and hit the tree 60 metres from the road.
“We tried to save the coach because he was still breathing, but he died immediately,” Kimaiyo said.
“Kiptum was laying under he car with his seat belt ripped and he was already dead.”
Only last week, the World Athletics Federation only ratified the remarkable winning time of 2:00:35 by Kelvin Kiptum from the Chicago Marathon held on October 8 as the new world record.
Kiptum’s extraordinary achievement, being the first to break the 2:01 barrier under record-eligible course and conditions, surpassed Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record of 2:01:09 by an impressive 34 seconds.
The remarkable performance also marked a significant 50-second personal best for the late 24-year-old athlete.