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The 24-year-old had set the world report in Chicago in October earlier than his demise in a automobile accident this month.
Marathon world report holder Kelvin Kiptom, whose dream of breaking the race's two-hour barrier was resulted in a deadly automobile crash this month, has been remembered for his expertise and humility at a funeral in western Kenya.
The ceremony held within the Rift Valley village of Chepkorio, his hometown, on Friday was attended by a whole lot of mourners, together with political and sporting dignitaries equivalent to President William Ruto and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.
Kiptum, 24, had solely competed in three worldwide marathons, however every was among the many quickest seven ever recorded. He set a world report of two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago in October, ending 34 seconds behind his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge.
Anglican Bishop Paul Korir, who presided over the service, emphasised Kiptom's humility and ties to the area people, the place he labored as a cattleman and skilled as an electrician earlier than turning into an expert runner.
“He dined with the excessive and mighty and, on the identical time, he got here to Chepkorio to play pool,” Korir stated.
His sudden demise has shocked Kenya and the broader athletics group.
Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei stated, “He was a real celebrity who had a spectacular upward path.” “All indications had been that he was going to interrupt the two-hour barrier.”
“Fare you properly champion,” was the entrance web page headline of Kenya's main Day by day Nation newspaper on Friday.
Mourners, together with 1,500 meters report holder Religion Kipyegon, started arriving for the funeral early within the morning, some carrying black T-shirts with Kipytom's picture on the entrance. They watched because the physique lay in a half-open coffin on a purple carpet as a choir sang spiritual songs.
The service was broadcast on 4 large screens to the various villagers gathered exterior the venue.
Kiptom might be buried afterward Friday in a household plot close to the town of Eldoret, the place the federal government is now constructing a home for his spouse and two kids.
His widow, Asenath Cheruto, stated she and Kiptam, who had a conventional wedding ceremony in 2017, deliberate to carry a “colourful wedding ceremony ceremony” in April. “You have got been one of the best husband and father to our youngsters,” she stated, crying.
Kiptom had hoped to interrupt two hours in a marathon in Rotterdam in April and was additionally anticipated to make his Olympic debut in Paris this yr, which may have been his first head-to-head with Kipchoge. He and his coach Gervais Hakizimana, a 36-year-old Rwandan, died when the runner misplaced management of the automobile he was driving.