•Bernard Okalai Bilia, Governor of the Southwest region where the race took place said that Kipsang was leading the race but suffered a malaise that forced him to briefly stop minutes to the finish line.
•The race attracted over 600 runners from Congo, Ethiopia, France, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Tanzania, Chad, Tunisia and Cameroon.
Image: Handout
Barely weeks after Kenya lost Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, another athlete has been reported dead.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Charles Kipsang Kipkorir died on Saturday in Cameroon.
"A Kenyan runner died of a suspected heart attack after collapsing at the finish of Saturday's Cameroon mountain race, Africa's oldest international athletic competition, according to officials," says Xinhua.
Bernard Okalai Bilia, Governor of the Southwest region where the race took place said that Kipsang was leading the race but suffered a malaise that forced him to briefly stop minutes to the finish line.
Billia was addressing the media as reported by Xinhua.
It is reported that the 33-year-old athlete managed to cross the finish line but later collapsed after collecting his prize.
Efforts were made and Kipsang was rushed to the hospital where he died a few minutes later.
However, Governor Billia said they could not reveal exactly what happened to Kipsang as he appeared fine after the race.
"We might believe that it is something like heart attack," Bilia told reporters Saturday
"It is a very sad situation because he was at his fourth participation. It is a great loss for the African athletic federation, for his country Kenya, and for us Cameroon," he added.
The government of Kenya is yet to give an official statement on the matter.
The race attracted over 600 runners from Congo, Ethiopia, France, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Tanzania, Chad, Tunisia and Cameroon.
The race, dubbed Race of Hope, is of a particularly difficult terrain, with athletes going up and down the mountain, which is over 4,100 meters above sea level.
This week on Friday, Kenyans and the global community bid their final farewell to another athlete, Kiptum, as he was laid to rest in Elgeyo Marakwet.
The funeral service held at Chepsamo Secondary School grounds, was attended by President William Ruto among other State officials.
Kiptum, who tragically lost his life in a car accident on February 11, 2024, along the Eldama Ravine-Eldoret road alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana, sent shockwaves throughout the world and among athletes' families.
According to the post-mortem results conducted by government pathologist Johansen Oduor, the Marathon World Record holder died from severe head trauma sustained during the car crash.