NAIROBI, Kenya, March 16- Pamela Lisoreng, 25, who competed for Kenya at the 2006 World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, tragically passed on Saturday after training in Eldoret, her management, International Athletics Consultancy (IAC) has confirmed.
“With a strong sense of shock and disbelief I am reaching out to all our friends and associates and athletics fraternity at large with sad news of tragic passing of Pamela Lisoreng of Kenya.
“Pamela finished earlier today (Saturday) her run and on her way back home she suddenly collapsed and was pronounced dead by the time she reached the hospital in Eldoret. No further information is available at this stage,” Zane Branson, IAC Director, said in a statment.
“Pamela’s husband, Boniface Kirui, young son, family, friends and numerous athletes have lost wonderful spouse, mother, loved one and friend.
“Pamela’s gentle nature and warm smile are what is to live with us in these days of mourning and forever,” he added.
Lisoreng finished eighth in the Fukuoka World Cross running as a junior runner helping her nation to scoop the team title in the women’s 6km race although she did not score.
Athletics Kenya (AK) through its president, Isaiah Kiplagat, expressed shock over the tragic demise of the Eldoret-based athlete.
“AK is shocked by the tragic death of this promising female athlete who represented our country with pride during the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where she was part of the victorious junior women 6km team with the likes of Pauline Korikwiang and Veronica Nyaruai.
“At this trying moment, we stand by her husband, Boniface Kirui and her young son as well as the athletics community in Eldoret who have lost a loving wife, mother, sister and beloved friend,” Kiplagat added.
“While we wait to establish the cause of her untimely death, let us not speculate on the causes to give her family the peace they need to deal with this devastating loss.
“AK will deliberate on what support we shall render the family and will communicate the same in due course,” the federation boss stated.
Lisoreng, a Kenya Police Service runner, distinguished herself as a solid distance athlete, marking her marathon debut last year with 2:34:13 for fourth at Hengshui in China.
She ran her career best 1:10:09 over the half marathon last year in Prague and was a regular at the Athletics Kenya National Cross Country Series besides finishing sixth at the 2012 Nationals over 5000m and winning the 2009 Tegla Loroupe Peace Race in Kapenguria.