© AFP
© AFP

Kelvin Kiptum to be honored in Sunday's London Marathon

Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 18.04.24. | 19:01

Unlike in Rotterdam, his family will not be present as the athletes and organizers remember the men's marathon record holder

The TCS London Marathon will on Sunday pay homage to men’s world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who sadly lost his life in a motor vehicle accident in February.

As per Event Director Hugh Brasher, the start of this year’s London Marathon will encompass a 30-second round of applause, and thereafter a video of Kiptum’s life and performances will be played, with Geoff Wightman - the lead announcer - speaking.

This comes days after the organizers of Rotterdam Marathon also honored the late Kiptum with a minute silence, unassigning Bib number 1 which he should have won in the race, and many athletes wearing black ribbons in his memory.

“We want to celebrate the man,” Brasher said. “We’ll be doing this in conjunction with the BBC, as well, in terms of what they are doing.

“There’ll be some words that Geoff will say, just to remind people of Kiptum and celebrate his short but impactful life.”

His family will however not be present.

Kiptum last year in the streets of London narrowly missed Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record by just 16 seconds as he won the race in a time of 2:01:25.

The 24-year-old would then set a world record in his next marathon - Chicago Marathon in October - as he won in 2:00:35, which still stands up to date.

For the third year in a row, the elite men’s London marathon field will feature a record five - Geoffrey Kamworor withdrew - sub-2:04 men in the field.

The charge will be led by Kenenisa Bekele (2:01:41) who will be attempting to put up a great showing to get on the Ethiopian Olympic Marathon team after running 2:04:19 in Valencia.

Men's Elite list

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:01:41

Mosinet Geremew (ETH) 2:02:55

Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) 2:03:11

Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2:03:39

Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:03:48

Kinde Atanaw (ETH) 2:03:51

Leul Gebresilase (ETH) 2:04:02

Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04:29

Daniel Do Nascimento (BRA) 2:04:51

Addisu Gobena (ETH) 2:05:01

Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:05:29

Henok Tesfay (ERI) 2:07:12

Emile Cairess (GBR) 2:08:07

Callum Hawkins (GBR) 2:08:14

Hassan Chahdi (FRA) 2:08:19

Mahamed Mahamed (GBR) 2:08:40

Brian Shrader (USA) 2:09:46

Weynay Ghebresilasie (GBR) 2:09:50

Marc Scott (GBR) debut


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