Kelvin Kiptum's dad says mystery men visited home days before athlete's death
Kelvin Kiptum’s father says he was visited by four strangers looking for the marathon runner in the days before his tragic death in a car crash.
The marathon world record holder, 24, died at around 11pm on Sunday alongside his 36-year-old manager Gervais Hakizimana. Police said he had "lost control [of the vehicle] and veered off-road entering into a ditch on his left side" before he “drove in the ditch for about 60 metres before hitting a big tree”.
A female passenger, Sharon Chepkirui Kosgei, has since been discharged from a local hospital. The crash occurred on the road between Elodret and Kaptagat in western Kenya, an area favoured for training by top distance runners.
Kiptum had only recently emerged as a star, competing in his first marathon in 2022 before beating compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s record by running a staggering time of two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago in October. His death has been mourned by the athletics world and now his father, Samson Cheruiyot, has spoken for the first time.
“There are people who came home a while back who were looking for Kiptum but they refused to identify themselves,” the farmer told Citizen TV. “I asked them to provide identification, but they opted to leave. It was a group of four people.”
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He added: “I got the news of my son’s death while I was watching the news. I went to the scene of the accident but the police had taken the body to Eldoret. Kiptum was my only child. If he was alive, we would have great opportunities ahead. At our age, we don’t have any help and he has left children.”
The crash happened on the Kaptagat-to-Eldoret road (AFP via Getty Images)Cheruiyot is calling for the police to thoroughly investigate what happened to his son. The car Kiptum and Hakizimana were travelling in has been recovered by police and moved to Eldoret to be examined, while autopsies are being performed on the deceased.
Cheruiyot’s grief has been compounded by his last conversation with Kiptum on Saturday – the day before his death – when he relayed his ambition to lower his own marathon world record in Rotterdam in April.
“He told me someone will come and help us build a house. He said that his body is now fit, and he can now run for 1:59,” he added. “Kiptum was my only child. He has left me, his mum, and his kids. I have no other child. His mum was sick for a while. Right now I’m deeply saddened.”
Kelvin Kiptum's wife Asenath Rotich is mourning his loss (AFP via Getty Images)Kiptum’s wife, Asenath Rotich, had planned to travel with Kiptum to Rotterdam in April for the record-breaking attempt. "At times I would tell him he’s working out too much," she said. "He loved his children so much, I don’t know what I would tell them."
Kipchoge paid tribute to Kiptum in a statement on social media. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the Marathon World record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum,” he wrote.
“An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness. I offer my deepest condolences to his young family. May God comfort you during this trying time.”
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