The track and field world is yet to cope with the marathon record holder, Kelvin Kiptum’s sad demise last night. The situation felt more heavy as the meteoric rise of the Kenyan sprinter shook the world just a few years ago. A fatal road accident in a Kenyan village stopped Kelvin Kiptum’s heartbeat and, with that, a truckload of chances the world missed to see from him. 

That dismal note of unfulfilled wish loomed over the periphery of the Kenyan sport as well. The sobbing compatriots of Kelvin Kiptum had something to share about their astounding peer in the national jersey. With the mix of unfulfilled wishes and unheard tales, the situation panned out to be overly rueful. 

Kelvin Kiptum’s practice mates break into tears 

Despite hovering through the world for marathon engagements for the last several years, Kelvin Kiptum used to hold the Kenyan belongings as his favored training engagements. The hilly Kapsabet training camp was his practice ground. His long-time Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, almost shifted his home to that region to support the 24-year-old sprinter in every means. Meanwhile, the mournful ending couldn’t set them apart in their last voyage. 

In that fatal accident, both Kiptum and Gervais lost their lives. That sent the Kenyan track and field community in utter disbelief. To share that feeling, several known Kenyan track and field athletes were present outside of the Racecourse hospital. Being a presenting voice among them, Milcah Chemos said, “we’re just in this one as we’re nothing”. 

The YouTube channel, Nation, shared that saddening visual with the title, “Fellow athletes mourn marathon champion Kelvin Kiptum”. In sharing the screen space, Purity Koima, the County sports director shared her gloomy note, counting Kelvin Kiptum and his coach as “family”. “Kiptum did his part and he was yet even to enjoy what he had worked for”, she confessed. 

The uncharted love and reverence for the departed

Mentioning their strict exercise regime revolving to the location, Gervais Hakizimana once expressed, “In Chepkorio we live together. It’s very close to his house but it’s better that he doesn’t come home.” Eventually, Nahashon Kibon, the assistant coach from that region shared his melancholy lines, bringing the sports fraternity together. 

Read more: “Rip Man”: Track and Field World Mourns Kelvin Kiptum’s Unfortunate Passing

“May God be with us in this moment” was his cry to the occasion. After it, Kibon’s voice couldn’t last longer as weep raided in.  For a world marathon record holder, who had his humble journey from the region, Kelvin Kiptum held his unrivaled love for the place as well. So, at this very end of the road, the recognition felt loaded with mutual love and respect. 

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