Kenyans and the world of athletics jointly are mourning the untimely demise of former 25km world record holder Sammy Kiplimo.
Kiplimo died following a road accident at Himaki, Nandi County on Friday. Kosgei ran a world record of 1:11:50 during the Big Berlin 25km in 2010.
He was Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie’s pacemaker during the 2009 Berlin Marathon. He holds a personal best of 2:06:03 in the marathon, which he registered while winning the 2021 Zurich Barcelona Marathon in a course record.
He is also the winner of the 2015 Kosice Peace Marathon, where he posted 2:07:07. This year’s Daegu International Marathon on April 2 was his last marathon before he met his death. He paced seventh in a time of 2:08:39.
AK President Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei described the late Kosgei was a focused marathoner who only wanted the best for his country. He said Kosgei was an athlete who was always keen to improve his performance and was very disciplined.
“He simply focused on his goals and delivered on several occasions. Upcoming athletes must borrow a leaf from him if they hope to survive longer on track and road,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie has expressed shock and disbelief following the death of Kosgei. “I’m saddened by the death of Sammy Kiplimo Kosgei who died in an accident on Friday in Kenya.
I want to send my condolences to the family for losing such a young athlete whose career was just taking shape in marathon. I remember him pacing me during my Berlin Marathon race in 2009 and he was a humble athlete,” he said in his condolence message to the family.
