Kelvin Kiptum Explained

Kelvin Kiptum
Full Name:Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot
Birth Date:2 December 1999
Birth Place:Chepsamo, Chepkorio, Kenya
Death Place:near Kaptagat, Kenya
Height:1.80 m[1]
Weight:65 kg
Spouse:Asenath Cheruto Rotich
Children:2
Country:Kenya
Sport:Athletics
Event:Long-distance running
Coach:Gervais Hakizimana (2023–2024)[2] [3]
Highestranking:1st (Marathon, 2023)[4]

Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot (2 December 1999 – 11 February 2024) was a Kenyan long-distance runner who currently holds the marathon world record., he ran three of the seven fastest marathons in history[5] and was ranked first among the world's men's marathon runners.[6]

Kiptum won all three marathons he ran, including two top-tier World Marathon Majors (WMM) between December 2022 and October 2023. His times were three of the seven fastest marathon times,[7] setting a course record of less than 2 hours 2 minutes in each race.

Kiptum ran the fastest-ever marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, becoming only the third man in history to break two hours and two minutes and setting the then fourth-quickest time ever.[8] He followed it up four months later with the second-fastest marathon in history at 2:01:25, 16 seconds outside the world record, at the 2023 London Marathon (WMM). At the 2023 Chicago Marathon six months later in October 2023, he broke the world record by 34 seconds with a time of 2:00:35, a mark ratified on 6 February 2024—five days before his death—by the international track federation World Athletics.[9]

He and his coach died unexpectedly in an automobile accident on 11 February 2024 in Kaptagat, a settlement in rural Kenya used as a training place for long-distance runners. Local police said that Kiptum lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road, hitting a tree.

Early life

Kelvin Kiptum was born on 2 December 1999.[10] [11] He grew up in Chepsamo village, Chepkorio, a high-altitude (~2,600 m) area in Elgeyo-Marakwet County of Kenya's Rift Valley.[12] [13]

He was the only child of Samson Cheruiyot and his wife.[14] As a young boy, he herded his family's cattle and began following other barefoot runners along the forest trails. Kiptum started training around 2013, when he was 13 years old.[15] [16]

Career

In 2013, at the age of 13, Kiptum finished 10th in his first half marathon, the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon in Kenya. In 2014, he finished 12th; in 2018, he finished first, self-coached at the time.[17] [18] In March 2019, Kiptum participated in his first international race, the Lisbon Half Marathon, finishing fifth with a new personal record (59:54). He participated in six other races that year, touring north and west Europe, and won the Kass Half Marathon in Kenya in November.[19] In 2020, Kiptum started working with Rwandan 3000 metres steeplechase record holder Gervais Hakizimana as a coach, although Kiptum supposedly had periodically trained alongside other youths with him since 2013.[18] [2] [3] Since about 2020, he was already preparing for the marathon.[15] In December of that year, the then-21-year-old set a significant personal best in the Spanish Valencia Half Marathon marathon at 58:42, placing sixth. In 2021, he ran 59:35 and 59:02 half marathons in Lens, Pas-de-Calais (placing first) and Valencia again (placing eighth), respectively.

In December, 23-year-old Kiptum pulled off an upset when debuting in the classic 42.195 km distance at the Valencia Marathon. Running with a negative split, he took the victory with the fourth-fastest time ever of 2:01:53, becoming the third man in history to break two hours and two minutes. Only his compatriot and then-world record holder Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele had run faster up to that point. Kiptum set the quickest second half in marathon history with a time of 60:15 (including 14:00 from 30–35k and 28:05 between 30–40k). His winning time was by far the fastest marathon debut in history, smashing the course record by over a minute. He also beat the runner-up by more than a minute and the 2022 world marathon champion Tamirat Tola, the pre-race favourite, among others.[8] [20] [21]

thumb|Setting the world record at the Chicago Marathon in 2023

In April 2023, Kiptum set the course record at the London Marathon (2:01:25), only 16 seconds slower than the world record at the time and 72 seconds faster than Kipchoge's course record (2:02:37).[22] [18] [23] [24]

His following race, which was his third marathon and second World Marathon Major, was the Chicago Marathon on 8 October, 2023, when he was still aged 23. Kiptum set a new world record with a time of two hours and 35 seconds, slicing 34 seconds off Kipchoge's standard set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, and obliterating the course record by more than three minutes. Kiptum negative split again, but this time the first half was covered in 60:48, almost a minute faster than his performance in London (though still 14 seconds behind the world record pace), and he had the stamina to run his second half at 59:47—only two seconds slower than in London, where he set the quickest half in a marathon. As in Valencia and London, the Kenyan made his trademark move roughly near the 30K checkpoint. After the 29th kilometre in a fast 2:35, he clocked a record 13:35 from 32–37k at a swift 2:43 min/km pace (22.09 km/h). Thus, Kiptum averaged 2:51 min/km pace for the entire distance (20.995 km/h).[25] [26] He ran at the front after the 15K checkpoint, without a pacemaker after halfway, and alone from 30th kilometre onward, beating the runner-up—his compatriot Benson Kipruto—by almost three and a half minutes.[27] [28] [29]

Split times
Kiptum VS Kipchoge's WR times
Kiptum’s World Record
Chicago, 8 October 2023
Kipchoge’s Former World Record
Berlin, 25 September 2022
Distance Split Time Split Time
5 km 14:26 14:26 14:14 14:14
10 km 14:16 28:42 14:09 28:23
15 km 14:27 43:09 14:10 42:33
20 km 14:30 57:39 14:12 56:45
Half (3:09) 1:00:48 (3:06) 59:51
25 km 14:25 1:12:04 14:23 1:11:08
30 km 14:27 1:26:31 14:32 1:25:40
35 km 13:51 1:40:22 14:30 1:40:10
40 km 14:01 1:54:23 14:43 1:54:53
Marathon (6:12) 2:00:35 (6:16) 2:01:09

Training regimen

Following Kiptum's record-breaking performance in October 2023, his coach provided insight on the athlete's training regimen. Gervais Hakizimana stated that Kiptum logged 250 to 280 km (155–173 mi) per week in the lead-up to that year's London Marathon in April. His routine regularly featured daily morning runs spanning 25–28 km, track or fartlek workouts on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and intense long runs of 30–40 km at close to marathon pace on Thursdays and Sundays.[2] [30] He trained alternately in the high-altitude areas of Chepkorio and the nearby Kerio Valley (800–1,200 m) before the Chicago Marathon.[31]

Personal life

Kiptum was married to Asenath Cheruto Rotich, with whom he had two children.[32] [33]

Death and reactions

On 11 February 2024, Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died at 11:00 PM in a road traffic collision near Kaptagat.[34] [35] [36] [37] Local police stated that Kiptum lost control of his car and veered off the road, before entering a ditch and colliding with a tree.[38] [39] Four men who had visited him that day about a contract for running shoes were subsequently detained for questioning concerning Kiptum's death.[40]

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe remarked: "On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, team mates and the Kenyan nation. It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time. An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly."[41]

Former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge said: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the Marathon World record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum. 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." Kenyan President William Ruto stated: "Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world's finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record." He later ordered a house to be built for Kiptum's family, to be completed within a 40-day mourning period.[42]

Kiptum was buried at his farm in Naiberi following a funeral ceremony in Chepkorio on 23 February 2024 that was also attended by Sebastian Coe and William Ruto.[43] [44]

Achievements

Personal bests

Surface Event Time Place Date Notes
Track28:27.87 Stockholm, Sweden 4 May 2021
Road28:17 Utrecht, Netherlands 6 October 2019
58:42 Valencia, Spain 6 December 2020
2:00:35 Chicago, United States 8 October 2023 World record

Marathons

2022Valencia MarathonValencia, Spainbgcolor=gold1stElite Platinum marathon2:01:53, 4th performance all time (WR 44 s+)
2023London MarathonLondon, United Kingdombgcolor=gold1stWorld Marathon Majors2:01:25, 2nd performance all time (WR 16 s+)
Chicago MarathonChicago, United Statesbgcolor=gold1st2:00:35 (previous WR 34 s-)

World Marathon Majors Series timeline

2023
(Series XV)
1st
2:01:25
1st
2:00:35
Series standing Winner
50 pts

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tilastopaja Oy Track and field statistics Kelvin Kiptum . Tilastopaja.eu . 11 October 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609235446/https://www.tilastopaja.eu/db/at.php?Sex=1&ID=328311 . live.
  2. News: Gremmel . Robin . 8 October 2023 . Kiptum's Coach Fears Intense Training Will Shorten Record Career . . . 8 October 2023 . 13 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013153138/https://www.barrons.com/news/kiptum-s-coach-fears-intense-training-will-shorten-record-career-a94d00b1 . live.
  3. News: 9 October 2023 . Marathon: Gervais Hakizimana, galérien du bitume et coach du nouveau roi Kelvin Kiptum . . . 9 October 2023 . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012195714/https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20231009-marathon-gervais-hakizimana-gal%C3%A9rien-du-bitume-et-coach-du-nouveau-roi-kelvin-kiptum . live.
  4. Web site: World Rankings | Men's Marathon (Half Marathon-25km-30km) . 30 December 2023 . 30 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231230213302/https://worldathletics.org/world-rankings/marathon/men?regionType=world&page=1&rankDate=2023-12-26 . live.
  5. Web site: n.d. . Marathon Men . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212211001/https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/road-running/marathon/all/men/senior?regionType=world&page=1&bestResultsOnly=false&firstDay=1899-12-31&lastDay=2024-02-11&maxResultsByCountry=all&eventId=10229634&ageCategory=senior . February 12, 2024 . February 15, 2024 . worldathletics.org . World Athletics.
  6. Web site: Men's Marathon (Half Marathon-25km-30km) . . 12 February 2024 . 13 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213184003/https://worldathletics.org/world-rankings/marathon/men?regionType=world&page=1&rankDate=2024-02-06&limitByCountry=0 . live .
  7. Web site: Douglas . Scott . Here's How Fast the World's Best Marathoners Can Run . Runner's World . 12 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . 12 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212090425/https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20823734/these-are-the-worlds-fastest-marathoners-and-marathon-courses/ . live .
  8. Web site: Rathborn . Jack . 4 December 2022 . Amane Beriso and Kelvin Kiptum pull off surprise wins in blazing times at Valencia Marathon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205003755/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/valencia-marathon-results-beriso-gidey-kiptum-b2238561.html . 5 December 2022 . 4 December 2022 . The Independent.
  9. Web site: Simiyu . Wycliffe W. Njororai . 2024-02-13 . Kelvin Kiptum: the Kenyan runner who redefined what it takes to win marathons . 2024-02-14 . The Conversation . en-US . 14 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214124103/http://theconversation.com/kelvin-kiptum-the-kenyan-runner-who-redefined-what-it-takes-to-win-marathons-223452 . live .
  10. Web site: Kelvin KIPTUM – Athlete Profile . 4 December 2022 . . 5 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221205045144/https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/kelvin-kiptum-14859609 . live.
  11. Web site: Gault . Jonathan . 2024-02-12 . Rest in Peace Kelvin Kiptum: Marathon Star Transformed the Sport in 10 Months . 2024-02-13 . . en . 17 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217130143/https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/02/rest-in-peace-kelvin-kiptum-marathon-star-transformed-the-sport-in-10-months/ . live .
  12. Web site: Gault . Jonathan . 2024-02-12 . Rest in Peace Kelvin Kiptum: Marathon Star Transformed the Sport in 10 Months . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217130143/https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/02/rest-in-peace-kelvin-kiptum-marathon-star-transformed-the-sport-in-10-months/ . 17 February 2024 . 2024-02-13 . . en.
  13. News: Mather . Victor . 2024-02-13 . Kelvin Kiptum, Marathon World Record-Holder, Is Dead at 24 . 2024-02-26 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  14. Web site: Saya . Magdaline . Strange people looked for him 4 days before his death - Kiptum's father speaks . 2024-02-14 . The Star . en-KE . 14 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214015951/https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2024-02-12-strange-people-looked-for-him-4-days-before-his-death-kiptums-father-speaks/ . live .
  15. News: Watta . Evelyn . 8 October 2023 . Kelvin Kiptum confident ahead of the Chicago Marathon 2023 and beyond: "I can run 2:00" . 8 October 2023 . Olympics.com . . 19 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219163046/https://olympics.com/en/news/kelvin-kiptum-race-world-record-kipchoge-exclusive-chicago-marathon . live.
  16. News: Komen . Jonathan . Rutto . Stephen . 12 October 2023 . Coachless, shoeless, but not hopeless...Kiptum, the man of the moment . 12 October 2023 . . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012050332/https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/athletics/article/2001483258/coachless-shoeless-but-not-hopelesskiptum-the-man-of-the-moment . live.
  17. News: 7 October 2018 . Jepkosgey, Kiptum Wins Family Bank Half Marathon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231010190649/https://dailysport.co.ke/jepkosgey-kiptum-wins-family-bank-half-marathon/ . 10 October 2023 . 8 October 2023 . DailySport.co.ke.
  18. News: 25 April 2023 . London Marathon 2023: Can Kelvin Kiptum really be 'Kipchoge 2.0'? . . 8 October 2023 . 11 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011014943/https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/65380779 . live.
  19. News: 4 July 2020 . Birech, Chebet win Kass Marathon . 8 October 2023 . . 24 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231024124020/https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/birech-chebet-win-kass-marathon-223910 . live.
  20. Web site: Gault . Jonathan . 4 December 2022 . Kelvin Kiptum (2:01:53) & Amane Beriso (2:14:58) Surprise to Win Super Fast 2022 Valencia Marathon . 4 December 2022 . . 4 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221204192250/https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/12/kelvin-kiptum-20153-amane-beriso-21458-surprise-to-win-super-fast-2022-valencia-marathon/ . live.
  21. Web site: Valiente . Emeterio . 4 December 2022 . Kiptum and Beriso break course records in Valencia . 4 December 2022 . . 4 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221204200538/https://worldathletics.org/news/report/valencia-marathon-kiptum-beriso . live.
  22. News: McAlister . Sean . 24 April 2023 . How fast was Kelvin Kiptum's London Marathon vs Eliud Kipchoge's world record? . 24 April 2023 . Olympics.com . . 24 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424210449/https://olympics.com/en/news/how-fast-was-kelvin-kiptums-london-marathon-vs-eliud-kipchoge . live.
  23. Web site: Whittington . Jess . 23 April 2023 . Kiptum charges to 2:01:25 triumph, Hassan stuns on marathon debut in London . 24 April 2023 . . 23 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230423170609/https://worldathletics.org/news/report/kelvin-kiptum-sifan-hassan-london-marathon . live.
  24. Web site: Bozon . Jenny . 24 April 2023 . Who is men's London Marathon winner Kelvin Kiptum and could he surpass Eliud Kipchoge? . 24 April 2023 . . 8 October 2023 . https://archive.today/20231008164723/https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/news/a43685565/kelvin-kiptum/ . live.
  25. News: Hartnett . Sean . 10 October 2023 . Chicago Marathon Men — Kiptum Sub-2:01 . 10 October 2023 . . 11 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011022117/https://trackandfieldnews.com/chicago-marathon-2023-men-kiptum-sub-201/ . live.
  26. News: McAlister . Sean . 9 October 2023 . How fast was Kelvin Kiptum's men's marathon world record? Chicago Marathon 2023 race pace breakdown and split times . 9 October 2023 . Olympics.com . . 10 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231010004131/https://olympics.com/en/news/how-fast-was-kelvin-kiptums-world-record-2023-chicago-marathon-split-times . live.
  27. Web site: 8 October 2023 . Kiptum smashes world marathon record with 2:00:35, Hassan runs 2:13:44 in Chicago . 8 October 2023 . . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008181025/https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/chicago-marathon-2023-kiptum-world-record-hassan . live.
  28. News: Ingle . Sean . 8 October 2023 . Kelvin Kiptum shatters marathon world record with run of just over two hours . 8 October 2023 . . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008162630/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/08/kelvin-kiptum-sets-new-marathon-world-record-of-just-over-two-hours . live.
  29. News: Wilson . Jeremy . 9 October 2023 . Nike hit back at Adidas in 'super shoe' war as Kelvin Kiptum shatters men's marathon record . 9 October 2023 . . 0307-1235 . 9 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231009080454/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2023/10/08/kelvin-kiptum-marathon-record-chicago-nike-shoe-adidas/ . live.
  30. Web site: 10 October 2023 . Kelvin Kiptum's Coach Reveals His Incredible Training Before Marathon World Record in Chicago . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231010193934/https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/10/kelvin-kiptums-coach-reveals-his-incredible-training-before-marathon-world-record-in-chicago/ . 10 October 2023 . 10 October 2023 . LetsRun.com.
  31. News: Rotich . Bernard . 4 October 2023 . Chicago Marathon: Kelvin Kiptum sets sights on the big prize . 9 October 2023 . . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008192406/https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/chicago-marathon-kelvin-kiptum-sets-sights-on-the-big-prize-4388846 . live.
  32. Web site: 2024-02-13 . Kiptum's widow: My husband loved his children dearly . 2024-02-14 . Nation . en . 14 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214015744/https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/kiptum-s-widow-my-husband-loved-his-children-dearly-4523024 . live .
  33. News: 12 February 2024 . Family mourns Kenya's marathon prodigy Kelvin Kiptum . 14 February 2024 . Reuters.
  34. Web site: Odula . Tom . Mutuota . Mutwiri . Imray . Gerald . and . 12 February 2024 . Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, who was set to be a superstar, has died in a car cras. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212075701/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-died-car-107144332 . 12 February 2024 . 12 February 2024 . ABC News . en.
  35. Web site: Akinyi . Patricia . 11 February 2024 . World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum is dead . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212075534/https://biznakenya.com/kelvin-kiptum-dies/ . 12 February 2024 . 11 February 2024.
  36. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Kelvin Kiptum: World marathon record holder and his coach die in road accident . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212075646/https://news.sky.com/story/kelvin-kiptum-world-marathon-record-holder-and-his-coach-die-in-road-accident-13069858 . 12 February 2024 . 11 February 2024.
  37. Web site: Kiprono . Justus . 12 February 2024 . Kelvin Kiptum, World Marathon Star, Dies at 24 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211235745/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/11/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dies . 11 February 2024 . 11 February 2024 . How.Africa.
  38. Web site: Madowo . Larry . 12 February 2024 . Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and coach killed in road accident in Kenya . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212062335/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/12/sport/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dies-intl-hnk/index.html . 12 February 2024 . 12 February 2024 . CNN . en.
  39. News: 12 February 2024 . Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum killed in car crash in Kenya . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212075659/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240212-marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-killed-in-car-crash-in-kenya . 12 February 2024 . 12 February 2024 . Agence France-Presse.
  40. News: Rumsby . Ben . 2024-02-14 . Kelvin Kiptum: Four men who visited home before car crash questioned by police . 2024-02-16 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 0307-1235 . 14 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214211519/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2024/02/14/kelvin-kiptum-death-car-crash-four-men-arrested-marathon/ . live .
  41. News: 2024-02-12 . Athletics-Reaction to the death of marathon world record holder Kiptum . 2024-02-12 . Reuters.
  42. News: 2024-02-16 . Kelvin Kiptum: President William Ruto orders house for Kenyan athlete's family . 2024-02-16 . BBC . 17 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217125952/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68314060 . live .
  43. News: 2024-02-23 . Kenya: Athletics world bid final farewell as Kelvin Kiptum is laid to rest . 2024-02-23 . Africanews .
  44. News: 2024-02-23 . Hundreds of mourners attend funeral for marathon star Kiptum in Kenya . 2024-02-23 . Al Jazeera.