Exploring the Life and Legacy of Kelvin Kiptum: A Trailblazer in Kenyan Athletics
Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot, born on December 2, 1999, was a prominent Kenyan long-distance runner who held the marathon world record until his passing on February 11, 2024. At the time of his demise, he was the sole individual to complete a marathon in under two hours and one minute in a race meeting the record criteria. Notably, Kiptum achieved this feat three times, marking three of the seven fastest marathon times in recorded history.
Kiptum emerged victorious in three marathons, including two prestigious World Marathon Majors (WMM), between December 2022 and October 2023. His impressive times, all under 2:02, set course records in each instance, establishing him as the only athlete to accomplish this feat thrice.
At the 2022 Valencia Marathon, Kiptum made history by achieving the fastest marathon debut ever recorded, becoming the third person to break the two-hour and two-minute barrier. Just four months later, at the 2023 London Marathon (WMM), he recorded the second-fastest marathon time ever, finishing 16 seconds shy of the world record. In a remarkable display of athleticism, Kiptum shattered the world record by 34 seconds at the 2023 Chicago Marathon (WMM) six months later, clocking in at two hours and 35 seconds.
Early life
Kelvin Kiptum, born on December 2, 1999, hailed from Chepsamo village, Chepkorio, situated in the high-altitude area (~2600 m) of Elgeyo-Marakwet County in Kenya’s Rift Valley. This village lies approximately 30 km east of Eldoret, nestled near the southeastern border of the Kaptagat forest and close to the meridional Elgeyo (Keiyo) escarpment, which swiftly descends to the lower Kerio Valley (800–1,200 m).
Renowned for its picturesque landscapes, this region, along with nearby counties, is celebrated as the birthplace of numerous iconic Kenyan runners and is revered as a destination for international athletes. As a young child, Kelvin herded his family’s cattle and began shadowing other barefoot runners along the forest paths. His formal training commenced around 2013 when he was 13 years old.
Career
In 2013, Kelvin Kiptum, then 13 years old, participated in his inaugural half marathon, the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon, in his native Kenya, securing the 10th position. The following year, he finished 12th in the same event. It wasn’t until 2018 that Kiptum celebrated his first victory, triumphing in the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon with a time of 62:01. Notably, during this period, he was self-coached.
Kiptum’s foray onto the international stage commenced at the Lisbon Half Marathon in Portugal in March 2019, where he finished fifth, setting a new personal best of 59:54. Throughout that year, he competed in six other races across North and West Europe, notably winning the challenging Kass Half Marathon back home in November. Reports indicated that by 2020, Kiptum had begun collaborating with Gervais Hakizimana, the Rwandan 3000 meters steeplechase record holder, as his coach, although Kiptum had reportedly trained periodically alongside other youths with Hakizimana since 2013.
Around this time, he began preparing for marathons. In December of that year, at the age of 21, Kiptum achieved a significant personal best of 58:42 in the Valencia Half Marathon in Spain, finishing sixth. In 2021, he further solidified his prowess by clocking times of 59:35 and 59:02 in half marathons in Lens, France, and Valencia, respectively, finishing first and eighth.
In 2022, at the age of 23, Kiptum made history by becoming the third man ever to break the 2:02 barrier in the marathon. He achieved this feat during his debut in the Valencia Marathon, clinching victory with a time of 2:01:53, the fourth-fastest time in history. Kiptum’s remarkable performance included a swift second half, setting the quickest split in marathon history and smashing the course record by over a minute.
In 2023, he continued to dazzle the running world, setting the second-fastest marathon time in history at the London Marathon in April with a time of 2:01:25. In the Chicago Marathon later that year, still at the age of 23, Kiptum shattered the world record by 34 seconds, finishing in an unprecedented time of two hours and 35 seconds. His consistent negative splits and remarkable pacing propelled him to victory, setting a new standard in marathon running.
Training regimen
After Kiptum’s groundbreaking performance in October 2023, his coach shed light on the athlete’s training regime. Gervais Hakizimana disclosed that Kiptum consistently covered distances ranging from 250 to 280 km (155 to 173 mi) per week leading up to the London Marathon in April of that year.
His regimen typically included daily morning runs spanning 25–28 km, track or fartlek sessions held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and rigorous long-distance runs of 30–40 km conducted at a pace closely resembling that of a marathon, scheduled for Thursdays and Sundays. Before the Chicago Marathon, Kiptum alternated his training between the high-altitude locales of Chepkorio and the nearby Kerio Valley, situated at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 meters.
Kelvin Kiptum Death
At 11 pm on February 11, 2024, Kiptum tragically lost his life in a road traffic collision between Kaptagat and Eldoret, Kenya. The accident claimed the lives of both Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. According to local authorities, Kiptum was driving a Toyota Premio that lost control and overturned, resulting in the fatalities of Kiptum and Hakizimana, while also injuring a female passenger.
Kelvin Kiptum Wife
Kiptum was married to Asenath Rotich and they had two children.
