Ruto: Kenyan athletes must shine at Paris Olympics to honour Kiptum

Athletics Kenya had drafted the marathon sensation in the men’s marathon team and the scheduled showdown between the masterful marathon legend Kipchoge, 39, and the brash new kid on the block already looked like being one of the highlights of this year's Paris Games.

And even though Kiptum’s death have shattered the would-be great day, speaker after speaker who came on stage to pay their last respect to the fallen athlete on Friday seemed to agree that the only way the other Paris-bound Kenyan athletes were to give Kiptum a proper tribute, was to race with a deep sense of responsibility and conquer the Games.

President William Ruto, who led thousands of mourners in the emotional send-off at Chepkorio showground in Keiyo South constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, urged Kenyan athletes to go all the way in the Paris Games as a symbol of respect for the departed world beating marathoner.

 Ruto added that Kiptum’s prospect of dominating the marathon scene for more years to come seemed inevitable.

“I know that we all had hopes that Kiptum would keep Kenya in that global map even in the coming Olympics in Paris, but since we’ve you our athletes and you’ve heard from all of us, Paris is going to be the Olympics that is going to define this man Kelvin. We want you to make Paris the Olympics of Kelvin Kiptum.”

Ruto’s clarion call was also sounded by the Athletics Kenya boss Jackson Tuwei and National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) president Paul Tergat, saying the athletics fraternity would miss the input of the 24-year-old marathon prodigy.

Tuwei said Kiptum’s progression in the marathon was mind-boggling and that his previous heroics had clearly shown that a legal sub-two was within reach.

“When we analysed the progression in both half marathon and full marathon he ran, all indications were that he was definitely going to achieve his dream of bringing the marathon below two hours.”

“We had selected a team of male and female marathoners to represent Kenya and his name was on top of that list. We are going to miss him in Paris. I urge those who will be in Paris to train hard, run tactically as a team and bring the win back to Kenya in honour of our departed Kelvin Kiptum,” added Tuwei.

“The only tribute that we’re going to give to our brother, legend, champion Kiptum is to make sure that when we go to Paris every medal that we will be participating in we make sure we win in his honour,” said NOC-K boss Tergat.

The running superstar was later laid to rest on Friday at Naiberi Village in Uasin Gishu County.