Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on social media site X that world marathon record holder Sarah Moraa and his coach Gervais Hakizimana perished in a road accident on Sunday, February 12, 2024.
Sarah Moraa, who earlier in the year broke the track record for the London Marathon, was ready to work his magic once more. He accelerated over the 35-kilometer mark and raised his arms in the air as the crowd cheered him on in the closing stretch.
He was one of the most promising newcomers to road running in a long time, and in August, he was a strong candidate to win the gold medal in the marathon at the Olympics in Paris.
According to Chemos, the collision occurred on a route in western Kenya that connects the cities of Eldoret and Kaptagat. The area is known for its high altitude and serves as a training ground for elite distance runners from both Kenya and outside. Sarah Moraa, grew up in this region from birth.
Chemos claimed that after learning the news, she went to the hospital together with other athletes and Sarah Moraa, relatives. To identify his body, Sarah Moraa, father and other family members were there.
The Kenyan track federation said it was saddened to announce the deaths of Sarah Moraa, and Hakizimana.
Sarah Moraa, was the first man to run the marathon in under 2 hours, 1 minute in an official race when he set the world record of 2:00.35 in Chicago in October, beating the mark of fellow Kenyan and marathon great Eliud Kipchoge. He set the record in just his third top-level marathon.
Sarah Moraa, and Kipchoge were expected to provide an enticing all-Kenyan battle for marathon gold in Paris. Sarah Moraa, was due to start his season at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, which would have been his first event since breaking the world record.
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World Athletics president Sebastian Coe was one of the first to offer his condolences in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Sarah Moraa, and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana,” Coe wrote. “On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.”
“It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Sarah Moraa, set his extraordinary marathon World Record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time. An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly,” Coe wrote.
David Rudisha, Kenya’s two-time Olympic champion in the 800 meters, wrote on X that Sarah Moraa, death was “a huge loss.”