Mrs. Kiptum broke down and could not contain her emotions on Sunday, April 14 at the Rotterdam Marathon starting point. This is after the marathon’s organizers gave a special homage to Kenya’s late world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum.
Asenath being the wife to the late was invited as a special guest of the race in the Netherlands to honor the late for his wish to run under two hours at the Rotterdam marathon.
In an interview conducted last year in November Kelvin said that he would try his best to win the race and run in under two hours.
The master of the ceremony and the organizers asked the 50,000 runners to boost the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation which was established after his death. Additionally, he requested for a minute of silence to commemorate Kiptum.
Kiptum died tragically alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana on the Eldoret- Kaptagat road in February. His death shocked the whole world.
Abdi Nageeye a Dutch man who won the race dedicated his victory to the late Kelvin Kiptum and his training partners at Kaptagat among them Kenneth Kipkemboi who finished fourth.
Nageeye achieved his performance after setting up a camp at Kaptagat, Kiptum training place. Abdi Nageeye is a Somali born in the Netherlands.
Aseneth was in the company of Dr Chris Kiptoo, the Kenya National Treasury principal secretary whom he recognized that if Kiptum had been present he would have broken the record by completing the race in under two hours.
The Ps were in the company of CEO Golazo, Bob Verbeeck Kenya’s ambassador to the Netherlands, and Jackson Tuwei the president of Athletics Kenya as well as the president of World Athletics.
Dr Chris Kiptoo who is so passionate about sports supported the Kaptagat 10- 10-Kilometer Road race and tree planting which will take place in June to commemorate the late Kelvin Kiptum
According to Kiptoo, a tree-planting campaign and the ninth running of the Kaptagat Road Race will take place in July in commemoration of Kiptum.
“I’m very happy that this (Rotterdam Marathon) race has been dedicated to Kelvin Kiptum. This race was meant for Kelvin and he was determined to make a better performance than before, but God took him too soon and the world is using this opportunity to remember him,” Kitoo said.
“What I like is the fact that the leadership of this race has announced to the world that we are looking at the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation to not only support the family but also those that Kiptum supported. “I have come here not only as a member of Kelvin’s family but also as a member of the Government, having been on my way to the US for another official visit… we lost Kelvin but the world remembers him and we will soon be launching the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation in Kenya and engaging in activities that will keep him remembered.”
