PUYALLUP, Wash. (BN24) — Kenyan middle-distance runner Eliud Kipsang, a former collegiate standout in the United States, has died at age 28 after suffering cardiac arrest, officials and supporters confirmed Tuesday.
Kipsang passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, where he had been receiving intensive care following the medical emergency on Friday, June 6. His death was confirmed through a statement posted to a fundraising campaign established to support funeral and repatriation costs.
“Despite the tireless efforts of doctors and nurses, he tragically passed away on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025,” read the post.
A celebrated athlete in the U.S. collegiate track circuit, Kipsang made headlines in 2022 when he set a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) record in the 1500 meters. He clocked 3 minutes, 33.74 seconds at the Bryan Clay Invitational, a time that held as the fastest in NCAA history until earlier this year when it was surpassed by Villanova’s Liam Murphy.
Kipsang competed for the University of Alabama, where he achieved multiple honors. In 2021, he finished as runner-up in the NCAA Division I indoor mile and won the NCAA East Region title in the 1500 meters. He also placed fourth in the same event at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships, underscoring his consistency at the elite collegiate level.
Tributes have poured in from across the athletics community in Kenya and the United States, where he had lived and trained in recent years. Known for his speed, humility, and relentless work ethic, Kipsang was widely considered a rising star in middle-distance running.
The cause of the cardiac arrest remains unclear. Organizers of the GoFundMe campaign noted that proceeds will assist with transporting his remains to Kenya and covering associated expenses for his family.
Kipsang’s death comes as a significant loss to both Kenyan athletics and the U.S. collegiate sports community, where he had left an enduring mark through his achievements and character.
