Kenya pays tribute to marathon world-record holder Kelvin Kiptum at state funeral

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Kenya's world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum was given a state funeral Friday following his death in car crash earlier this month, as many Kenyans urged the government to do more to protect the country’s famous athletes.

Hundreds of dignitaries — from Kenyan President William Ruto to Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics — joined family, friends and fans of Kiptum in paying their last respects as he was interred in Naiberi, about 4 miles from his hometown of Chepkorio in western Kenya.

The 24-year-old runner and his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, were killed in the crash two weeks ago near the town of Kaptagat in western Kenya, in the heart of the high-altitude region that’s renowned as a training base for the best distance runners from Kenya and across the world.

MARATHON WORLD RECORD-HOLDER KELVIN KIPTUM, SET TO COMPETE IN PARIS OLYMPICS, DIES IN CAR CRASH

Kiptum was one of the most exciting prospects to emerge in road running in years, having broken the world record in what was only his third appearance in an elite marathon. His record of 2 hours and 35 seconds, set last October at the Chicago Marathon, was ratified by international track federation World Athletics just days before he died.

A portrait of Kelvin Kiptum is seen ahead of his burial, in Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya, on Feb. 23, 2024. Kiptum was buried on Friday following his death in a vehicle crash earlier this month. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Kiptum had hoped to break the two-hour marathon ceiling in Rotterdam in April and make his Olympic debut in Paris this year.

His death reverberated through Kenya,