Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei has regretted that the country will miss the late World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum in the forthcoming games.
Speaking during the funeral service of the athlete at ASK Chepkorio grounds, Tuwei said Kiptum was among those shortlisted to participate in the Paris Marathon in France.
“We wish to ask those who will be in Paris to train hard and run tactically as a team and bring the victory back to Kenya in honour of our departed Kelvin Kiptum,” he said.
Tuwei at the same time appealed to Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor to consider employing the late Kelvin Kiptum’s wife
He said this will enable her to stay within the county so that she can take care of the young family.
Tuwei added that they will also discuss with the county, Nike and other partners how Kiptum will be honoured.
“It is unfortunate that we lost Kiptum just five days after his record was ratified,” Tuwei said.
“Kiptum’s dream was to make sure that a training field is established in Chepkorio. He was a real superstar whose career was on a spectacular upward trajectory. ”
Tuwei thanked President Ruto for supporting Kiptum’s family.
The government has built a fully furnished three-bedroom house for Kiptum at his Naiberi farm, in Uasin Gishu.
The State fully catered for the burial arrangements and cost.
On December 11, 2023, Kiptum was voted as the world’s best male athlete of the year in the long-distance running category.
Kiptum was honoured with the award in Monaco by the World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
Kiptum and his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana died on Sunday, February 11, 2024, in a tragic road accident in the Kaptagat area along the Eldoret- Eldamaravine road.
Kiptum was born on December 2, 1999, and is a Kenyan long-distance runner and the Marathon World Record holder (2:00:35).
He is the only person in history to run a marathon under 2:01:00 in a record-eligible race.
Kiptum holds three of the top six fastest marathons ever run.
He ran the fastest-ever marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, becoming the third man in history to break two hours and two minutes.
Kiptum followed with a debut at a World Marathon Major, winning the 2023 London Marathon in what was then the second-fastest time in history of 2:01:25, 16 seconds outside the then-world record.
In the 2023 Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023, Kiptum set a new marathon world record with a time of 2:00:35.
At the age of 18, in October 2018, Kiptum won the Eldoret Half Marathon with a time of 1:02:01.
