US-based athlete airlifted to Kenya after passing away in road crash

NAIROBI, Kenya, January 24, 2025 – Kenyan athlete Joan Jepngetich, who passed away in a road accident on December 26 in Illinois, has been airlifted to the country.

Jepngetich’s body arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday night where it was received by her family and friends as well as Athletics Kenya (AK) officials.

AK’s chief administrative officer Susan Kamau sympathised with family and friends of the deceased, passing along the federation’s condolences.

“We pass our condolences to the family and express our deepest sympathy to them. We want to assure the family that AK will stand with you during this trying moment,” Kamau said.

She assured of the entire support of the athletics family towards Jepngetich’s kin as they mourn the loss of their daughter.

“We thank each and every person who has stood with the family during this difficult time and helped in bringing her home. We thank the local athletes and those back in the U.S. for their support,” Kamau added.

Speaking at the same time, Kipkurui Chepkwony, a family friend, said Jepngetich’s death is a huge loss to her whole community, back home Chebarbar location in Kapsabet.

“It is a huge loss to us as a community back home in Chebarbar. She was not just an athlete, but a neighbour and a friend,” Chepkwony said.

Family and friends of U.S.-based Kenyan runner Joan Jepngetich as well as AK officials, after receiving the body of the 22-year-old at JKIA.

He thanked all those who had helped in the airlifting of the body back to Kenya, including Carl Sandburg College, the government of Kenya as well as AK.

“The college have been very supportive as well as the athletics community in Illinois. They ensured that Joan’s body was safely transported to Nairobi from JFK Airport. The government also facilitated the clearance of the body from the airport and AK were instrumental in facilitating communication between the athletics community in Kenya and America. We are really grateful for the support,” he said.

Jepngetich, 22, died on the spot when the Mercedes Benz she was travelling in along with two of her friends veered off the highway near Barstow, Galesburg.

The other occupants of the vehicle, a man and woman both aged 22, also died while receiving treatment.

Jepngetich was studying nursing at Carl Sandburg College where she had enrolled in August 2024 after transferring from Iowa Central Community College.

She represented her college at National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) events, where she shone at a number of competitions.

Jepngetich boasted personal bests of 2:39.49 (800m), 5:16.60 (1500m), and 19:29.46 (5000m).

Her last race was the NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on November 11, where she finished 64th in the women’s race, clocking 20:32.2.

A month earlier, she had propelled the Sandburg women’s cross country team to victory at the Arrowhead Conference Cross Country Championships in Kishwaukee, finishing second in 22:03.3.

Her body was taken to Montezuma Funeral Home from where she will be taken to her rural area over the weekend, ahead of burial on Tuesday next week.

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