Kenyan distance runner Franklin Chepkwony, known for winning the 2016 Seoul Marathon passed away shortly after a 23K training run. He had just finished a run with training partner Mike Boit, then died upon his arrival home.
Famed long-distance athlete Franklin Chepkwony alias Tele died on Monday, August 7, after collapsing that morning in Eldama Ravine,Baringo.
— Eng John Macharia (@EngJohnMachari1) August 8, 2023
This came days after a Kapsabet-based athlete was killed on the road. Sammy Kosgei, a rising athlete. pic.twitter.com/yK7tkX6UBu
Boit said, “Our training went well and he was in high spirits. I was called when I got home that my friend had collapsed and died but I couldn’t believe it. I rushed to his home, where I confirmed indeed he was no more.”
Boit said Chepkwony competed in the Nairobi City Marathon on July 2. Chepkwony placed 54th in the time of 2:16:43.
The 39-year-old owns a marathon best of 2:06:51. Chepkwony finished third and sixth in the Boston Marathon and sixth in the Berlin Marathon.
Chepkwony first appeared on the running scene in 2011 when he finished second in the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in 2:11:00 and just five seconds behind Ernest Kebenei.
