Athletics Kenya in touch with Cameroon officials after Kenyan marathon runner Kipkorir dies after race.

Kenya’s top athletics governing body Athletics Kenya has confirmed talks with Cameroonian officials following the passing Kenyan long distance runner Charles Kipkorir Kipsang. Kipsang collapsed on Saturday after crossing the finish line in the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, which was held in the city of Buea, the capital of Cameroon’s South West region.

The region’s Governor Bernard Okalai Bilai confirmed the 33 year old athlete was well at the start of the race but developed complications that forced him to stop mid race. “He was asked to get in to the ambulance but he declined. He took some soda and continued with the race.” said Bilai in an interview with reporters,

He is reported to have been leading the race for almost four hours and twenty minutes before he was overtaken close to the finish line at the Molyko stadium. “We cannot say exactly what happened. He was fine. He was good after the race. We might believe that it is something like heart attack,” Bilia told reporters 

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Kipkorir who succeeded in crossing the finish line collapsed after collecting his prize. He was rushed to the hospital where he died minutes later. “We are in touch with the athletics authority and Cameroonian authorities and we will keep you posted on the next steps.” said the statement from Athletics Kenya.

The incident comes just a day after the renown marathoner Kelvin Kiptum was laid to rest at his home in Naiberi, Uasin Gishu. Kiptum died alongside his coach Gervais Hazikimana died in a road accident along the Eldoret- Eldama ravine Road. The athletics board was also making preparations for the burial of record breaking athlete Henry Rono who passed away on February 15, 2024 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nairobi.

Had he won the race he would have the second Kenyan to ever secure a podium finish in the event in six years since Cheplimo Luka Kipkemoi claimed bronze in 2018.