Eldoret, Kenya | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat, 34, known for his achievements in the 3,000m steeplechase, was discovered dead in a car on the outskirts of Eldoret, Kenya. Reports suggest he was a victim of murder, with a deep knife wound to his neck indicating stabbing.
The incident occurred on Saturday night in Eldoret, a town in the Rift Valley frequented by high-altitude training athletes. Local police commander Stephen Okal confirmed the initiation of an investigation, and authorities are actively pursuing leads.
Kiplagat, a Kenyan-born athlete who had represented Uganda in international competitions, participated in multiple Olympic Games and World Championships during his 18-year running career. Notably, he secured a silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championships and bronze at the Africa Championships in 2012.
This tragic event follows the October 2021 killing of Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop, aged 25, who was found stabbed to death in her Iten home, near Eldoret. Tirop’s husband, Ibrahim Rotich, is currently on trial for her murder, having denied the charges. He was released on bail just before the trial commenced.
Agnes Tirop, a double world 10,000m bronze medallist and 2015 world cross country champion, also achieved a fourth-place finish in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, she broke the world women-only record in the 10km road race in Germany the month preceding her tragic death.
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