World-record marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum dead at 24

The Kenyan long-distance runner and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died in a car wreck Sunday in western Kenya. The independent news group Nation Africa cited Kenyan police who said Kiptum was driving the car when it went into a ditch and hit a tree. The pair died at the scene and a third person who was inside the vehicle was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The record-breaking runner was expected to be a top contender for a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer. Kiptum holds a world record for running a marathon in 2 hours, 35 seconds, set last October. International track federation World Athletics ratified Kiptum’s record just last week. He is survived by his wife, Asenath Rotich, and two children.