Marathon hero Kelvin Kiptum remembered for humility at funeral

Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who dreamed of breaking the two-hour barrier, was remembered for his talent and humility at a funeral service Friday in western Kenya.

Kiptum, 24, and his coach Gervais Hakizimana were killed earlier this month in a car accident.

The ceremony in the Rift Valley village of Chepkorio was attended by political and sporting dignitaries, including Kenyan President William Ruto and World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

Kiptum had only run three international marathons, but each was among the seven fastest times ever recorded. He set the world record in Chicago last October in 2 hours and 35 seconds, taking 34 seconds from his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge.

“He was a true superstar whose journey was on a spectacular upward trajectory,” said Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei.

“Everything indicated that he was going to break the two-hour barrier.”

Anglican Bishop Paul Korir, who presided over the service, highlighted Kiptum's humility and his links to the local community, where he had worked as a cattle herder and trained as an electrician before becoming a professional runner.

“He would dine with the great and powerful, and at the same time he would come and play billiards in Chepkorio,” Korir said.

Kiptum will be buried later Friday in a family plot near the town of Eldoret, where the government is building a house for his wife and two young children.

His widow, Asenath Cheruto, said she and Kiptum, who had a traditional wedding in 2017, had planned to have a “colorful wedding ceremony” in April.

“You have been the best husband and father to our children,” Cheruto said.

Kiptum had hoped to do two hours in a marathon in Rotterdam in April and was also due to make his Olympic debut in Paris this year in what could have been his first face-to-face with Kipchoge.