NAIROBI, Kenya, December 30 – Athletics Kenya (AK) have paid tribute to Kenyan athlete Joan Jepng’etich who who passed away in a road accident in Galesberg, Illinois on Thursday.
In a statement, the federation described the 24-year-old’s demise as a huge loss for the country and a life-gone-too-soon.
“We are deeply saddened by the cruel and untimely death of a young talent who was making Kenya proud at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) events,” the federation said.
Jepng’etich was among occupants of a Mercedes-Benz, that veered off the highway near Barstow and crashed into a tree before catching fire.
Two others in the vehicle, a 22-year-old female driver and 22-year-old male were taken to hospital with injuries.
The Kapsabet-born runner departed Kenya in August last year to move to the Iowa Central Community College on a scholarship before transferring to Carl Sandberg College in Illinois where she was until her demise.
Jepng’etich represented the college at various National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) events, the last one being the NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on November 11 this year where her college finished 22nd in the 41-team competition.
AK saluted Jepng’etich for flying the national flag high and proving that athletics is Kenya’s number one export.
“At Carl Sandberg College, her impact has been seismic, further proving that Kenya is the cradle of long distance running. was indeed the epitome of athletics being Kenya’s number one export and brand to the world,” the federation said.
Plans are underway to airlift the athlete’s body to Kenya for burial, which will be preceded by a funeral service at the Bethel Baptist Church in St Galesberg.
