The news this week of the death of Kenyan athlete Kelvin Kiptum in a car accident was devastating. Kiptum was the current world marathon record holder, a record he set last year in Chicago at just 23 years old. During the race he took 34 seconds off the previous record set by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in a time of 2:00:35, just shy of the magical sub-2-hour mark.

Kipchoge previously ran a marathon in 1:59:40 during a special time-trial event, but no-one has ever run under 2 hours during an open event. With his time just 35 seconds off the 2-hour mark, Kiptum seemingly had the talent and potential to be the first to run under the 2-hour record.

His untimely death at just 24 years old leaves an enormous hole in Kenyan and world athletics.

He was also the latest in a long line of African runners, especially Kenyans, who dominate the marathon distance. Six Kenyans have broken the world record since 2003. Kipchoge and Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie have each broken the record twice since 2003.