Athletics Kenya (AK) has canceled the trials for the African Games Accra 2024 which were scheduled to be held on February 16, 2024, and February 17, 2024, at The Nyayo National Stadium.

In a statement on Wednesday, February 14, AK said the trials were canceled to honor World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died last Sunday.

“Athletics Kenya wishes to inform all athletes and the entire athletics fraternity that the Trials for African Games which were scheduled to take place on 16th and 17th February 2024 at The Nyayo National Stadium have been cancelled in honor of the late Kelvin Kiptum,” read the statement in part.

The athletics governing body noted that the selection process of the team that will represent Kenya at the African Games will be announced later.

“The selection process for the team that represent the country at the African Games which will be held on 18th to 22nd March 2024 in Accra, Ghana, will be announced in due course,” AK added.

Kiptum passed away together with his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a gruesome road accident in the Kaptagat area along the Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine Road.

A lady who was in the car with them survived the accident but sustained serious injuries.

World Athletics ratified Kiptum’s world record marathon time of 2:00:35 set in the Chicago Marathon in October 2023 just days ago. The world record holder died at the age of 24 years.