Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum, holder of the marathon world record, died yesterday in a tragic car accident . The 24-year-old, who won the London Marathon in April before setting the world record in Chicago in October, lost control of his car while driving in Kaptagat , south-west Kenya, at 11pm local time. ). His coach, Gervais, Hakizimana also died in the accident, a third person was rushed to hospital.
«Devastating news as we mourn the loss of an extraordinary individual, Kelvin Kiptum, world record holder and icon of Kenyan athletics. Together with his coach, they died tragically this evening in an accident. Our nation is saddened by the profound loss of a true hero,” Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga wrote on X.
Kiptum ran the marathon in 2 hours and 35 seconds, his goal – he declared – was to break the two-hour barrier .
(Unioneonline/L)