The Chicago Marathon will have a special flavor this year. Tinted with sadness. Because Kelvin Kiptum, world record holder with a time of 2 hours, 35 seconds in this city a year ago, won’t be one of them. Having died following a car accident last February, the Kenyan will be honored this Sunday in Illinois.
On October 8, 2023, this little-known 23-year-old athlete achieved the unthinkable. He set a monumental time and beat the world record of his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge (2h01′09′’), the king of the marathon. He has become racing’s new star, aiming for a sub-two-hour race in April 2024 and then gold at the Paris Olympics.
But Kelvin Kiptum was killed on February 11 after he ran off the road in the Rift Valley town of Kaptagat, not far from his place of residence and training. His coach, Rwandan Gervais Hakizimana, who was also on board, also lost his life in the accident.
Stickers and a minute of silence
“The 2 hours and 35 seconds Kelvin Kiptum spent on the streets of Chicago last October will go down in Chicago Marathon history. This year, as we see this void on the starting line, we want to honor his legacy,” explain the organizers.
The 50,000 participants in this great marathon, one of the six “majors” in the world, will be offered stickers to attach to their bibs and a minute’s silence will be observed on the starting line.
Without him, the Ethiopian Birhanu Legese presents himself with the best reference time (2h02:48 in Berlin in 2019), but had not met successes since the Tokyo marathon in 2020. The Kenyans Amos Kipruto, Vincent Ngetich and Daniel Ebenyo complete the favorites list.
Without the Dutchman Sifan Hassan, who is resting after his exploits at the Paris Games (three medals including gold in the marathon), the Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich is the fastest among those registered (2h14′18′’).
The Chicago Marathon will take place this Sunday and will be broadcast from 2.15pm on Eurosport 1 and La Chaîne L’Equipe.
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