RIP!! Here’s How Kenyan Marathon World Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum Died In An Accident , What Really Happened

Current marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a road accident Sunday night outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, Kenyan police confirmed.

The 24-year-old Kenyan athlete, who was driving a Toyota Premio, and his coach died at the scene of the crash, Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge told CNN.A third occupant survived with serious injuries, Mulinge added.

“He lost control, veered off the road, entered into a ditch 60 meters away and hit a big tree,” Mulinge said.

The accident happened around 11 p.m. local time. Kelvin Kiptum ’s world record marathon time of 2:00:35 set in the Chicago Marathon in October last year was ratified just days ago by World Athletics.

He had only switched to running the marathon from shorter distance races a year before setting that record pace.He improved his personal best time by 50 seconds to beat the 2:01:09 record set by fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who is widely considered the greatest marathoner of all time.

Kiptum was widely believed to be the successor to Kipchoge, and a possible contender to run the marathon in under 2 hours.Hakizimana, 36 was a former professional athlete from Rwanda who participated in different races from the 5,000 meter to the half marathon.