Kenyan runner hit by car during marathon

Sep 17, 2018

Joseph Kiprono was leading a half-marathon in Colombia.

PIC: Kenyan athletes Joseph Kiprono (L) and Daniel Muindi race during the 21km race at the Medellin Flowers Marathon in Colombia on Sunday. (AFP)

ATHLETICS


Kenyan athlete Joseph Kiprono was knocked down by a car Sunday as he was leading a half-marathon in Colombia in which another competitor collapsed and died, the organizers said.

Kiprono is a previous winner of the event.

He was leading the 21 kilometer (13 mile) race in second-city Medellin when he was struck by a car that authorities said had "violated a road closure."

After being treated by medics on the spot, he was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises and later reported by doctors to be in good condition.

Organizers said a 38-year-old runner had collapsed during the race with heart problems and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

Joseph Kiprono wore bib number 30


Meanwhile, on the same day, another Kenyan athlete broke the marathon world record. Eliud Kipchoge smashed the previous best as he clocked 2hr 1min 39sec.

The 33-year-old Olympic champion, aided by a string of pacemakers through to 25km of the 42.195km race, took 1min 18sec off the previous best set four years ago by Dennis Kimetto.

It was the largest single improvement on the marathon world record since Derek Clayton improved the mark by 2:23 in 1967.

 



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