Eliud Kipsang, University of Alabama Track Champion, Dies at Age 28
Eliud Kipsang, the record-breaking Kenyan middle-distance runner, has passed on following a cardiac arrest in the United States
The athletics fraternity across the world is in shock following the sudden demise of the Kenyan middle-distance sensation Eliud Kipsang, who died on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, aged only 28 years. Kipsang was a victim of cardiac arrest, which occurred days before his death at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington.
In a statement posted on a GoFundMe page created by his friends and family, Eliud Kipsang collapsed on Friday, June 6 and was taken to the hospital immediately, where he was put in the intensive care unit. He passed away four days after the attempt by doctors and nurses.
Eliud Kipsang was not only a bright prospect but also a national record holder. Then, in 2022, racing in the University of Alabama colours, he shocked the track world, running an NCAA record of 1500m, crossing the line in 3 minutes, 33.74 seconds at the Bryan Clay Invitational. That mark held until earlier this year when Villanova’s Liam Murphy just edged past it.
Promising Kenyan runner Eliud Kipsang
He finished second in the NCAA Division I indoor mile in 2021 and won the 1500m East Region title before placing fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, an indication of his emerging supremacy in middle-distance races.
A soft-spoken and determined worker, Eliud Kipsang had moved to the U.S. to pursue his dreams of becoming an athlete. His passing at such a young age has created a huge gap in the running community, especially in Kenya, where he was considered as one of the future greats in the long tradition of elite runners in the country.
Tributes are still coming in around the world over a young man whose journey was terminated prematurely, as his family, friends, and fans are now raising funds to have his body brought back home.
