Details of Kelvin Kiptum’s Intense Last Two Weeks Before Fatal Accident
On the morning of Monday, February 12, Kenyans and the global athletics community were greeted with distressing news about the passing of marathoner Kelvin Kiptum. The tragic incident occurred in a road accident on the route linking Eldoret and Kaptagat towns.
According to information from a police report acquired by Gossipa2z, the car driven by Kiptum ended up in a ditch, resulting in the fatalities of both Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, a Rwandan national. Fortunately, a woman who was also in the vehicle survived but suffered severe injuries. She was promptly taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
“Upon reaching the location of the accident, he lost control and veered off-road entering into a ditch on his left side. He drove in the ditch for about 60 meters before hitting a big tree,” read the police report in part.
“As a result, Kelvin Kiptum and Gervais Hakizimana died on the spot whereas Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei escaped with serious injuries and was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment.”
Gossipa2z closely followed Kiptum’s recent career, delving into the rigorous journey he underwent in the past two weeks. This included an in-depth examination of the demanding process leading up to the official recognition of his world record in Chicago last year, along with insights into his preparation for the upcoming Rotterdam Marathon slated for April this year.
In October of the previous year, Kiptum achieved a historic feat by completing the Chicago Marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute, setting a new record of 2:00:35, surpassing the previous marathon record held by Eliud Kipchoge.
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The record was officially approved by World Athletics last week, solidifying his status as the quickest marathon runner globally.
The International Athletics Regulatory Authority conducted various procedures, including the examination of multiple doping samples, before officially approving the marathoner’s record.
These examinations are frequently conducted to confirm that the athlete refrained from utilizing prohibited substances in an attempt to secure victory in the competition.
The ratification process includes doping control and shoe compliance.
As per World Athletics regulations, any marathon or half marathon completion must take place on a route with a valid International Course Measurement Certificate issued within the last five years from the race date.
Last week, Kiptum’s record, which he set four months ago by surpassing a previous record held by Kipchoge and reducing it by 34 seconds, was officially approved.
Rotterdam Marathon in April
Lately, the long-distance runner has been actively participating in rigorous training sessions leading up to the imminent Rotterdam Marathon, where he is anticipated to compete against Eliud Kipchoge.
In a previous interview, Coach Hakizimana disclosed that Kiptum undergoes a rigorous training routine, covering a distance ranging from 250 to 300 kilometers.
“During the preparation for London, we spent three weeks at more than 300km. That’s a very large volume. He works a lot on endurance. When he’s training, he’s strong,” the coach revealed in a past interview.
Kiptum divides his training routine into two daily sessions, covering a distance of 40km on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in both the morning and afternoon. On Tuesdays, he engages in track workouts, specifically focusing on Fartlek sessions.
He covers a distance of 40 kilometers at a marathon pace on Thursdays and Sundays, and on Saturdays, he may choose between track events or road work.
Hakizamana acknowledged the rigorous nature of the workout routine, expressing concern for the athlete. He emphasized that Kiptum took breaks only when fatigued.
“He’s very strong. He does all the training properly. He’s in his best years but at some point, I’m afraid he’ll get injured,” he stated in an Interview with AFP.
The Chicago race was the third of his career.
Details of Kelvin Kiptum’s Intense Last Two Weeks Before Fatal Accident