Kelvin Kiptum, who shattered the world record in the men’s marathon last year, finishing tantalizingly close to the mythical and once unfathomable two-hour barrier, died in a car crash on Sunday in Kaptagat in western Kenya. His death was announced by Athletics Kenya, the governing body for track and field in that country. Kiptum, who was driving, veered off the road into a ditch and then hit a large tree, the authorities said. After some good performances in half marathons, Kiptum broke through in his first marathon in Valencia, Spain, in 2022, with a winning time of 2:01:53. At the London Marathon in 2023, he crushed the field to win in 2:01:25, the second-fastest time in history, 16 seconds short of the world record of 2:01:09 held by Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya.

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Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Hakizimana, Sharon Kosgei, Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge Organizations: Athletics Kenya, London Marathon Locations: Kaptagat, Kenya, Valencia, Spain