:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/ONU7JUPBYVDGRF34RKO5HBA4TQ.jpg "Kelvin Kiptum, world marathon record holder, dies in car accident in Kenya")
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder, died in a car accident in Kenya on Sunday afternoon, said one of his fellow athletes who went to the hospital and saw his body. He was 24 years old.
Kiptum’s coach also died in the accident, Kenyan runner Milcah Chemos said. The accident occurred on a highway between the towns of Eldoret and Kaptagat in western Kenya, according to Chemos, in the heart of the high-altitude region that is recognized as a training base for long-distance runners.
Chemos mentioned that he was in the group of athletes who went to the hospital in Eldoret after hearing the news of the accident. Members of Kiptum’s family were also with them to identify the body, Chemos said.
Kiptum was the first man to run the marathon in less than 2 hours and 1 minute. He set the new world record of 2:00.35 at the Chicago Marathon in October, surpassing the mark of fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge.
Kiptum’s record was ratified last week by the international athletics federation.