The track and field world is reeling from the loss of one of its brightest middle-distance stars. Eliud Kipsang, a former NCAA record holder and national champion in the 1500m, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, after suffering cardiac arrest just days earlier. Known for his explosive speed and unshakable composure on the track, Kipsang proudly wore the crimson of the University of Alabama, where he etched his name into collegiate history.

Kipsang’s sudden passing has left a gaping void not only in his Alabama family but also throughout the whole athletics community. His range and versatility on the track was elite. Whether it was the 800m or the 5000m, he delivered with a kind of precision that only few could match. After collapsing on June 6 and being rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, he was admitted to the ICU. Despite valiant efforts by medical staff, the 25-year-old tragically passed away four days later.

Track & Field Gazette took to X to confirm the heartbreaking news, “Former NCAA 1500m record holder Eliud Kipsang 🇰🇪 has passed away 🕊️ He suffered cardiac arrest and despite medical efforts, died on June 10, 2025.” The post sent ripples across the global athletics community, as tributes flooded in from fans, fellow athletes, and sports journalists. Kipsang wasn’t just a rising star. He was already well on his way to becoming one of the greats. A gut-wrenching reminder of how even the fittest athletes aren’t immune to life’s cruelties. Before tragedy struck, Kipsang had been tipped for greatness.

He etched his name in the NCAA history books with a 3:33.74 in the 1500m, a collegiate record that stood proudly until Villanova’s Liam Murphy broke it earlier this year. In 2023, fresh off an impressive collegiate career, Kipsang turned pro with Adidas, ready to take his talents to the world stage.  The Stride Report chronicled his move with optimism, noting his standout performances for Alabama, including a title win at the 2021 SEC Cross Country Championships. Born in Eldoret, a town that has produced a constellation of Kenyan legends. Kipsang embodied that same fire. His personal bests spoke volumes: 1:46.99 in the 800m, 3:54 in the mile and 7:53 in the 3000m.

And yet, as the American Heart Association has pointed out, athletes like Kipsang: male, African descent, in endurance sports remain disproportionately at risk for sudden cardiac death.  These events, often tied to undetected congenital heart conditions, are a chilling reality, even as medical protocols improve. Despite it all, what remains is a legacy built on grace, grit, and greatness.

Fans reflect on Eliud Kipsang’s stunning legacy and the tragedy that cut it short

In a sport where records are made to be broken, Eliud Kipsang’s name was etched into history. With a ferocity few could match. The Alabama standout left the world speechless back in 2022 when he obliterated the NCAA 1500m record at the Bryan Clay Invitational with a blazing time of 3:33.74 becoming the only college runner in history to dip under 3:34. It wasn’t just a collegiate triumph; he outpaced professionals, including Olympian Will Paulson, in a masterclass of tactical brilliance. The moment was a coronation of sorts, confirming that Kipsang wasn’t just great. He was generational. And now, as the track and field world processes his passing, one fan captured the collective shock:
“I’m always shocked when elite athletes die from health related issues… such high fitness that ain’t no way they such such can take them out. (Prayers for the family though).”

Kipsang’s legacy as a Crimson Tide star was built on dominance and grit. He not only conquered the 1500m but laid down remarkable personal bests across a stunning range, 13:39 in the 5k. His consistency earned him three All-American honors on the track and the 2021 SEC Cross Country crown. He wasn’t just a middle-distance runner; he was a force. Turning pro with Adidas and joining Tinman Elite in Boulder, Colorado, the track world knew he was destined for something special. And now, they’re left reckoning with what could’ve been. “This is so tragic,” another fan lamented. Summing up the heartbreak many feel at losing such a bright light far too soon.

That historic night at the Bryan Clay Invitational wasn’t just about records. It was a window into the kind of champion Kipsang was becoming. Paired with LSU’s Favour Ofili’s 200m collegiate record the same day. It was one of those rare moments when the sport collectively paused to marvel at its rising stars. But for Kipsang, that ascent has now turned into grief. “Sad news… RIP 🙏🏾” read another comment online, a simple but powerful tribute to a young man whose story ended mid-chapter. The feeling is mutual across fans who watched his journey unfold from Eldoret to Alabama and beyond.

Now, as his loved ones face the unimaginable task of bringing Eliud home to Kenya, the community is mourning not just an athlete. But a son of the sport. “Rest in peace, champion,” one supporter wrote. A final salute to a runner whose heartbeat once carried the hopes of many. And then, came the gut-punch of a truth too heavy to ignore, “This is so unfortunate… how long will we keep losing such young stars to cardiac issues? Just tragic at all levels, rest in peace champ!” Eliud Kipsang’s loss is not just personal. It’s a sobering moment for an entire sport that watched him rise. Only to lose him at the cusp of greatness.