Kiptum to female athletes: Stick to lead group to break world record

New marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has offered some advice to Kenya female athletes who wish to regain their position as world record holders in the marathon races.

This comes after Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa stunned the sporting world after she chopped more than two minutes off the previous record set by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, finishing in just 2:11:53 hours in the Berlin Marathon on 24th of September.

Speaking in Iten at his homecoming ceremony organized by Elgeyo Marakwet County Government, Kiptum, who on Sunday set the new men’s world record after 2:00:35 in the Chicago Marathon, advised Kenyan female athletes to always stick with the lead group from the start of the race for them to stand a chance of breaking Assefa’s record.

“The ladies need to work hard and train hard. They need to stop lagging during races if they want to break a world record. They should always be on the leading group,” Kiptum said.

On his side, Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei urged Kenyan athletes to work together to ensure they register good results.

“Let us work together to ensure that our athletes do well. The athletes can’t do well when they don’t love each other,” Tuwei said.