—- World Athletics president Seb Coe has led the tributes to Kelvin Kiptum, the men’s marathon world record holder, whp died in a road accident in Kenya late on Sunday night. Kiptum and his coach Garvais Hakizimana died in a collision in the Kaptagat area.

Kiptum won the 2023 London Marathon and then shattered compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s world record at the Chicago Marathon in October in 2:00:35.

His next target was the Rotterdam Marathon in April with speculation growing about a possible attempt to break the two-hour barrier in an official race for the first time, following Kipchoge’s unofficial run of 1:59:40.2 in Vienna in 2019.

Coe said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.

“On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates 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.”

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