Marathon runners in London pay emotional tribute to Kelvin Kiptum – the Kenyan athlete who tragically died in a car crash aged 24 – ahead of the race he stunningly won last year

Thousands of marathon runners in London honored the memory of the late reigning men’s champion Kelvin Kiptum ahead of Sunday’s race.

Kenyan runner Kiptum was 24 when he and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana, 37, died in a road accident in his home country on February 11.

Kiptum ran the second fastest marathon in history in London last year, setting a time of 2:01:25, just 16 seconds above the world record.

Ahead of Sunday’s start, a black and white image of Kiptum crossing the finish line on the Mall was shown on large screens, with Buckingham Palace in the background.

There was applause and cheers from both elite and amateur runners, plus hundreds of spectators along the 26.1-mile course, to remember him.

More to follow.

London Marathon runners paid tribute to the late reigning men’s champion Kelvin Kiptum on the start line following the Kenyan’s tragic death in a car crash in February

An image of Kiptum winning last year’s London Marathon was shown on large screens, prompting cheers and applause

Kiptum set the second fastest marathon time in history during the race in London last year