Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei has condoled the family of athlete Sammy Kosgei who died on Friday night in a road accident in Kapsabet, Nandi County.
In a communication from Riadha House, the retired general said that Athletics Kenya would like to join Kenyans and the sports fraternity in mourning the passing on of former 25km world record holder Sammy Kiplimo Kosgei.
Kosgei ran a world record of 1:11:50 during the Big Berlin 25km in 2010.
The communique read “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.”
Tuwei described the late Kosgei as a focused marathoner who only wanted the best for his country.
He added that 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, Gebrselassie expressed shock and disbelief following the death of Kosgei saying: “I’m saddened by the death of Kosgei who died in an accident on Friday in Kenya," the legendary marathoner said.
"I want to send my condolences to the family for losing such a young athlete whose career was just taking shape in the marathon. I remember him pacing me during my Berlin Marathon race in 2009 and he was a humble athlete”, he finalised.