Who is Kelvin Kiptum?

 

Oct 8, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya celebrates after finishing in a world record time of 2:00:35 to win the Chicago Marathon at Grant Park. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot, born on December 2, 1999, and sadly passed away on February 11, 2024, was a distinguished Kenyan long-distance runner who left an indelible mark on the sport. 

Renowned as the world record holder in marathon running at the time of his untimely demise, Kiptum achieved a monumental feat by becoming the first individual in history to complete a marathon in under two hours and one minute in a race that met record-eligible criteria. 

His athletic prowess was evident in his remarkable performances, with three of the seven fastest marathons ever recorded credited to his name.

Throughout his career, Kiptum exhibited sheer dominance, emerging victorious in all three marathons he participated in, including two prestigious World Marathon Majors (WMM) events held between December 2022 and October 2023. 

His exceptional times, each surpassing the course record with a stunning sub-2:02 finish, solidified his status as a trailblazer in the sport, achieving this extraordinary feat not once, but thrice.

Kiptum's meteoric rise was highlighted by his debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, where he shattered records, becoming only the third individual in history to breach the elusive two-hour and two-minute mark, setting the fourth-fastest time ever recorded. 

His prowess was further showcased four months later at the 2023 London Marathon (WMM), where he delivered a jaw-dropping performance, finishing with the second-fastest marathon time in history, just 16 seconds shy of the world record.

However, it was at the 2023 Chicago Marathon (WMM) in October that Kiptum etched his name into the annals of history, obliterating the world record by an astonishing 34 seconds, crossing the finish line in an unprecedented two hours and 35 seconds. 

At the pinnacle of his career, Kiptum held the esteemed title of being ranked first in the world in men's marathon rankings.

Early Life

Kelvin Kiptum was born on December 2, 1999, in Chepsamo village, Chepkorio, nestled within the high-altitude terrain (~2600 m) of Elgeyo-Marakwet County in Kenya's Rift Valley. 

Situated approximately 30 km east of Eldoret, the village rests on the southeastern fringe of the Kaptagat forest, adjacent to the meridional Elgeyo (Keiyo) escarpment, transitioning swiftly into the lower Kerio Valley (800–1,200 m). 

This region, alongside its neighboring counties, is renowned as the cradle of numerous esteemed Kenyan athletes and a sought-after destination for international runners.

Growing up amidst this backdrop, Kiptum's childhood was marked by tending to his family's cattle and shadowing barefoot runners along the forest pathways. 

His journey into the world of running commenced around 2013, at the tender age of 13, igniting a passion that would propel him to extraordinary heights in the years to come.

Career

In 2013, at a mere 13 years old, Kiptum embarked on his maiden half marathon journey, participating in the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon in his native Kenya, where he clinched the 10th position. 

The following year, he improved his standing, securing the 12th position in the same event. It wasn't until 2018 that the young athlete tasted victory, triumphing in the race with an impressive time of 62:01, all while self-coaching.

Venturing onto the international stage, Kiptum made his debut at the Lisbon Half Marathon in Portugal in March 2019, finishing fifth and setting a new personal best of 59:54. 

Throughout the year, he showcased his prowess in six other races across North and West Europe, culminating in a memorable win at the challenging Kass Half Marathon back home in November.

Reports emerged in 2020 of Kiptum collaborating with Rwandan 3000 meters steeplechase record holder, Gervais Hakizimana, as his coach, although their association had reportedly begun intermittently since 2013. 

By this time, Kiptum had already set his sights on transitioning to the marathon distance. In December of that year, the then-21-year-old achieved a significant milestone, setting a personal best of 58:42 at the Spanish Valencia Half Marathon, finishing sixth.

In 2021, Kiptum continued to make waves in the half marathon circuit, clocking impressive times of 59:35 and 59:02 in Lens, France (claiming the top spot), and Valencia (finishing eighth) respectively. 

These performances underscored his relentless dedication and growing prowess as he prepared to tackle the marathon distance.

2022: Third Man Ever to Break 2:02 in the Marathon

In December, the 23-year-old Kiptum made headlines with a stunning debut in the renowned 42.195 km Valencia Marathon. 

Executing a masterful negative split strategy, he clinched victory with a blistering time of 2:01:53, marking the fourth-fastest marathon in history. 

This feat positioned him as only the third man ever to break the elusive two-hour and two-minute barrier, joining the ranks of his compatriot, the then-world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, and Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele.

Notably, Kiptum's remarkable performance included the swiftest second half in marathon history, clocking in at an impressive 60:15, highlighted by extraordinary splits such as 14:00 between the 30-35 km mark and 28:05 from 30-40 km. 

His triumphant finish shattered the previous course record by over a minute, leaving the runner-up trailing by a significant margin. 

Among his competitors was Tamirat Tola, the reigning 2022 world marathon champion and pre-race favorite, whom Kiptum surpassed by more than a minute, solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of distance running.

2023: #2 Performances All Time, and World Marathon Record – First Man Under 2:01

In his subsequent challenge, Kelvin Kiptum made his debut in a World Marathon Major at the London Marathon in April. 

Despite the rainy conditions, he seized victory decisively, recording the second-fastest time in history at 2:01:25, missing the world record by just 16 seconds. 

Employing a negative split strategy once again, Kiptum blazed through the first half in 61:40, then surged ahead after the 30 km mark, completing the latter half in an astounding 59:45—the swiftest half marathon in a full marathon race at that time. 

This included an impressive 13:49 split between the 30 to 35K mark, maintaining an astonishing pace of 2:45.8 min/km. 

He outpaced his fellow villager and inspiration, Geoffrey Kamworor, by nearly three minutes and shattered Kipchoge's course record by over a minute.

Undeterred, Kiptum continued his meteoric rise in his third marathon and second World Marathon Major at the Chicago Marathon on October 8, still only 23 years old. 

There, he etched his name in the annals of history by setting a new world record of two hours and 35 seconds, slashing 34 seconds off Kipchoge's benchmark set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon and annihilating the course record by over three minutes. O

nce more employing a negative split tactic, Kiptum covered the first half in 60:48, nearly a minute faster than his London performance, and sustained a formidable pace to complete the latter half in 59:47, only two seconds slower than his London feat. 

Displaying his trademark move around the 30K checkpoint, Kiptum surged forward, setting a record 13:35 split between the 32–37k mark at a rapid pace of 2:43 min/km. 

His overall average pace for the entire distance stood at 2:51 min/km, an incredible display of endurance and speed. 

Running at the forefront after the 15K checkpoint without a pacemaker, he maintained his lead solo from the 30th kilometer onward, finishing ahead of his compatriot Benson Kipruto by almost three and a half minutes.

Training Regimen

Following Kiptum's historic achievement in October 2023, his coach shed light on the rigorous training regimen that propelled the athlete to success. 

Gervais Hakizimana revealed that in preparation for the London Marathon in April of that year, Kiptum diligently logged between 250 to 280 kilometers (155–173 miles) each week. 

His training routine comprised daily morning runs covering distances of 25–28 kilometers, supplemented by structured track or fartlek workouts held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 

Additionally, Kiptum engaged in demanding long runs spanning 30–40 kilometers at a pace closely resembling that of a marathon, undertaken on Thursdays and Sundays. 

Alternating between the high-altitude environs of Chepkorio and the nearby Kerio Valley (800–1,200 meters), Kiptum meticulously honed his endurance and speed ahead of the Chicago Marathon.

Death

Tragically, at 11:00 pm local time on February 11, 2024, Kiptum met his demise in a fatal road traffic accident on the route between Kaptagat and Eldoret, Kenya.

The incident claimed the life of his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, as well. Local authorities reported that Kiptum lost control of his vehicle, swerving off the road and ultimately colliding with a tree after entering a ditch.