L. MathekaAK Africa Games trials put on hold in honour of Kiptum
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 14.02.24. | 17:15
Last October Kiptum ran 2:00:35 shaving 34 seconds off the previous mark set by Eliud Kipchoge
Athletics Kenya (AK) has announced the postponement of the trials to next month’s African Games which were scheduled to take place on 16 and 17 February at Nyayo National Stadium.
The move, according to the national governing body is meant to honour world marathon record holder, the late Kelvin Kiptum who passed away on Sunday in a grisly road accident.
“Athletics Kenya wishes to inform all athletes and the entire athletics fraternity that the Trials for African Games which were scheduled to take place on 16th and 17th February 2024 at The Nyayo National Stadium have been canceled in honor of the late Kelvin Kiptum.
The selection process for the team that represents the country at the African Games which will be held from 18th to 22nd March 2024 in Accra, Ghana, will be announced in due course,” the communique from AK reads.
Kiptum passed on Sunday night in a road accident in the Kaptagat area alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana.
The 24-year-old was driving from Kaptagat to Eldoret around 11 pm on Sunday when the car, with two passengers on board, veered off the road, hit a tree before landing in a ditch killing the athlete and his coach with the third occupant escaping with injuries.
Kiptum started his journey to marathon stardom by winning the Valencia Marathon in December 2022 and followed it with the 2023 London Marathon triumph where he set a course record before shattering the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October.
Last October Kiptum ran 2:00:35 shaving 34 seconds off the previous mark set by Eliud Kipchoge, who is the second fastest of all time in the marathon.
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