Funeral procession honors marathon prodigy Kelvin Kiptum in Eldoret

Hundreds of mourners filled the Kenyan athletics hub of Eldoret on Thursday to pay their respects to the late marathon sensation, Kelvin Kiptum. The 24-year-old athlete, who tragically lost his life in a car crash earlier this month, was celebrated in a poignant funeral procession through the streets of Eldoret, his coffin adorned with flowers.

Kiptum, who recently set the world marathon record, faced an untimely demise on February 11 in a late-night accident near Eldoret. As his hearse traversed the town’s roads, a mix of mournful silence and hymns filled the air, reflecting the deep impact of his passing on the tight-knit community.

Barnaba Korir, a member of the Athletics Kenya executive committee, expressed the profound loss, stating, “It is a big void in Kenyan athletics.” Kiptum, a married father of two, is set to be laid to rest in Chepkorio, near Eldoret, following a requiem mass on Friday.

The funeral procession, attended by fans and fellow athletes, moved towards Iten, the renowned high-altitude training region. Cleric Philip Chumo remarked, “We have to accept that Kiptum is no longer with us; he is here in spirit.”

Local sports official Purity Koima conveyed the widespread sorrow, emphasizing Kiptum’s impact on the community. “We lost so many athletes here in Iten, but Kiptum’s death has hit everyone hard,” Koima stated.

Details from the autopsy conducted by chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor revealed that Kiptum suffered severe head injuries and fractures at the base of the skull. Toxicology tests to determine further details are still pending.

Kelvin Kiptum burst onto the marathon scene in 2022, making headlines with his world-record-breaking run in Chicago. His remarkable time of two hours and 35 seconds eclipsed the previous record, held by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge. Despite his brief marathon career, Kiptum secured three of the all-time fastest seven times for the event.

The late athlete had been poised to compete at the Paris Olympics, where a highly anticipated face-off with marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge awaited. Kiptum’s untimely death has left the world of athletics mourning the loss of a promising talent and the potential showdown at the upcoming Olympics.