Eliud Kipchoge expresses regret over Kelvin Kiptum ahead of Tokyo Marathon

Kipchoge pays tribute to Kelvin Kiptum, expresses regret over his absence ahead of Tokyo Marathon.

Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge on Friday honored Kelvin Kiptum, the world record holder who passed away last month after tragic accident.

Kipchoge is preparing to compete in Sunday’s Tokyo Marathon in his first race since Kenyan compatriot Kiptum was killed on February 11 at the age of 24.

Kiptum passed away a few months after surpassing Kipchoge’s world record, and it was anticipated that the two would compete for the first time in the Olympics in Paris this year.

The 39-year-old Kipchoge said it was “unfortunate that he left here”.

“His career was in high spirits and he was really running on a high level,” he said.

Although Kiptum only competed in three marathons, he won all of them and posted three of the seven fastest times in history.

Kipchoge said this year’s Olympic marathon would be “a little bit different” following Kiptum’s death.

“There were high expectations,” said Kipchoge, who won Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games and again five years later at the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics.

Pastor Ng’ang’a challenges Ezekiel Odero to send him KSh 2m after gifting Benny Hinn KSh 14.6m

Chad opposition killed in a gun exchange with the army ahead of election

Faith Odhiambo elected new LSK president

Ruto introduces mandatory requirement for Kenyans seeking to affordable houses

SIX African presidents who have already agreed to support Raila bid for AU job

Kiptum ran a time of two hours and 35 seconds at the Chicago Marathon last October to slice 34 seconds off Kipchoge’s previous world record.

He stood on the podium alongside Chicago women’s champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who is also competing in Tokyo.

Hassan, who won in Chicago in the second-fastest women’s time in history, said she was “heartbroken” by Kiptum’s death.

“When he broke the world record in Chicago I shared it with him,” she said.

“He was so young and he was showing the world what was possible. It’s very hard.”

Kipchoge returns to Tokyo for the first time since breaking the course record in 2022 in a time of 2:02:40.

Also read,