The elite men’s field at the London Marathon on Sunday will carry the memory of the late Kelvin Kiptum, according to Ethiopian athlete Kenenisa Bekele.
Kiptum, the world record-holder, tragically passed away in a car accident in February at the age of 24, alongside his coach. He set a course record in last year’s London Marathon and later broke the world record in Chicago.
Bekele expressed the collective sentiment of the athletes, saying, “All of us miss him. We are all remembering him.”
Kiptum’s remarkable achievements in just three marathons left a profound impact on the sport. His untimely death came as a shock to the running community, robbing it of a promising talent.
Bekele believes that Kiptum was destined for even greater success, expressing confidence that he would have achieved a sub-two-hour marathon, whether in Rotterdam or elsewhere.
Despite being one of the older competitors at 41, Bekele remains excited to compete against the younger generation, including Tamirat Tola and Alexander Mutiso Munyao. He emphasized that his primary concern is his own health rather than the competition.
Among the British elite runners, Emile Cairess and Callum Hawkins are aiming to make their mark. Cairess, eyeing a spot at the Paris Olympics alongside training partner Philip Sesemann, reflected on their journey together and the prospect of competing at the Olympics.