David Kimani Dies!!!!!!! No joke.

I teach at the University of Alabama. I used to see David at the rec center. Here he would be, handing out towels, or wiping down exercise equipment between users, always with a smile on his face. It was a amazing to me. I mean this guy had run 13:10 for the 5K. 13:10 and he's wiping some powerwalker's sweat off from a treadmill. I suspect that 95% or more of the people who came through the rec center had no idea who he was. Now I'm just your average old fart, professor runner who runs 20 minute 5Ks. However, when I talked to him about running and racing, he was always kind and generous. If I'd ask him about how his training was going or his thoughts about a recent race, he'd treat me like a colleague. If he'd see me finishing a workout, he ask me how far I'd run, how it went, etc. For a man who had 6 national championships, he was just incredibly modest and kind. It is a tragic loss for the University of Alabama community and the community of runners, in general. I'm in shock.

...mark

Guys, as depressed as I am over this, I was wondering if there is any word of the cause of death yet. I am very curious, as I am sure we all are.

Clearly this is American Track and Fields biggest tragedy since Pre.

What horrible news. It is always so hard to believe when someone dies so young. Heartbreaking.

I'm deeply sad to hear this news. I want to thank those close to him who gave me a closer look at the person.

It's these small stories about a person that can mean so much to someone who never had the pleasure to meet him.

The sport has suffered a great loss today. Kimani, we'll miss you, God Bless, my friend.

David was not only an exceptional runner, but one of the happiest, caring, loving, and just fun loving guys I've ever been blessed to be around. The fact that I was just small potatos compared to his talent, made no difference to him, he still always remembered who I was, and never missed an opportunity to say "hey, whats happenin" to me, and then took a little time to talk a while. We here in Huntsville along with everyone else who knew Dave or knew of him sends our love and our prayers to his wife, his family, and his extended family, The Tide T&F. Keep it up Dave, I know your still running somewhere. Twig

I didn't know him, didn't particularly follow his career, have no anecdotes--I'm sitting here crying, and quite frankly, that's my definition of God. I think I'll hammer today as a tribute.

I didnt personally know kimani, but i was with him at the 2 mile mark of the 2001 NCAA cross championships at furman where he dropped out. i was probably the only person in that section cheering and after he dropped out, i went over to make sure he was all right, and man was he in pain, he couldnt even stand up. i only talked to him briefly before getting his trainer, but even after dropping out (of a race no ordinary person wouldve even begun!) he was polite to me, thanked me, and remembered my face when i saw him later on that afternoon. although it was only a brief moment, from then on i have never stopped cheering for kimani. his loss is our loss. my thoughts and condolences go to his wife and family and the alabama track team, may he rest in peace.

First David Bloom, now David Kimani, can someone tell me whats going on??

But seriously, a truely sad day for all of running. From all I've read he was a genuinely nice guy and its nice to see everyone join together for once and send him off in a true runners farewell.

May his soul RIP

Happy Trails David. I run for you today.

K

Lot of great stories here about Kimani. Sounds like he was definitely a class act to all. I can't imagine that there are many athletes in other sports who have even come close to Kimani's achievements that would be nearly as humble. I really wish I could have met him. It's odd because I have had for months as my wallpaper on my computer at work a picture of Kimani, Boaz, Torres, and Cragg and NCAA XC last fall. To think that one of those fine athletes is no longer with us is shocking.

One thing I find a bit annoying about what happened is that it isn't mentioned anywhere. If someone who was even just a starter on a sweet-16 NCAA basketball team suddenly died like that, it would be all over the news (national news, ESPN, whatever). Now, someone like Kimani, who is simply one of the very best around dies and there is scarcely any attention outside of our small running community. Although, perhaps it is a good thing. Perhaps the lack of attention to our sport by others, whether during the good times or the bad, is what keeps runners closer together.

We all cannot comprehend what this "Death" is. Always we wake up and face the day and what we just DONT know is'why is it happening to the Most great people'. Kimani was a really the Man of the people. He makes his effort of runing realised in the whole world. Lets just live by the saying " we know not the hour when jesus may come" We can all be ready for thats the surest way.May God comfort His family and the entire world as we face this hard time.

Thanks,

jackson.

morceli1978 wrote:

One thing I find a bit annoying about what happened is that it isn't mentioned anywhere. If someone who was even just a starter on a sweet-16 NCAA basketball team suddenly died like that, it would be all over the news (national news, ESPN, whatever). Now, someone like Kimani, who is simply one of the very best around dies and there is scarcely any attention outside of our small running community. Although, perhaps it is a good thing. Perhaps the lack of attention to our sport by others, whether during the good times or the bad, is what keeps runners closer together.

I totally agree, I went to check out espn.com and cnnsi.com to see if that had anything. Absolutely nothing. On a superb athlete and fine gentleman who passed away suddenly and at such an early age.

i know i may get heat for this but how come everyone bashes christianity on this board and goes psycho when a thread about it goes up but in this one its like everyone is praying for him or saying hes in a better place. just doesnt make sense.

There actually is an article about it on espn.com

http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2003/0416/1540056.html

Although you had to search to find it.

the people who would regularly bash christianity are showing some restraint on a thread of this type, as they should.

I was shocked when I read the news this morning. I still cannot belive this has happened. I did write an e-mail to espn stating that David Kimani deserves every bit as much attention as Kareem's high school basketball coach's death (which happens to be mentioned on the front page of their website). I only talked to Kimani briefly at some cross and track races, but he was as enjoyable to talk to as he was to watch fly around the track.

Absolutely shocking,

The last race I saw him run was in Iowa State, and I cant believe that is was such a short time ago and now he is gone. It is a great loos to the world of Track and Field. My heart, thoughts and prayers go to his family and wife.

I've got a couple of pictures on my desk I took from the 2002 NCAA XC's of the top four (Boaz, Torres, Cragg, and Kimani) and it's hard to believe that one of them is gone. It just sucks -- no one is supposed to go at 25. It's good to see all of the nice things people have posted as to the type of person he was and the impact he left on people. The quantity of his life was cut short, but the quality of it certainly wasn't. I for one am proud to read those testimonials to him -- having Kimani in our sport definitely made the sport better.

What a horrible tragedy. I remember having a similar feeling when Jeff Drenth died. It just makes you hurt in a way you wished you didn't have to, but I too will pray for his family and friends. At this point, we can definitely feel the bond that distance running have given us. I had the priviledge of seeing David run at the Drake relays (01?) and I remember how smooth he was and how he really enjoyed the way the crowd supported him.

Now there's another star in the sky. God bless you David Kimani