Kiptum’s pacemaker: How we had planned to attack Rotterdam
Novestus Kirwa, one of the athletes who used to train with Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, struggles to come to terms with the death of Kiptum, at Chepkorio in Keiyo South, Elgeyo Marakwet County on February 20, 2024. Kiptum died together with his Rwandese Coach Gervais Hakizimana following a road crash at Flax on the Eldoret-Kaptagat-Eldama Ravine a week ago.
Kirwa had stepped into the shoes of a pacemaker, entrusted with the crucial role setting the pace for Kiptum in his quest for greatness at the April 14 Rotterdam Marathon
Kiptum was seeking to become the first man to beat the two-hour barrier in competitive, record-eligible conditions
For Kirwa, this assignment was not merely a professional duty, but a deeply personal journey that would catapult him to greatness, just like the world record holder himself
Last December, Novestus Kirwa bade farewell to his training grounds of Kapsabet in Nandi County, embarking on a journey that would intertwine his fate with that of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum.
Kirwa had stepped into the shoes of a pacemaker, entrusted with the crucial role setting the pace for Kiptum in his quest for greatness at the April 14 Rotterdam Marathon.
