Kimani was only 25 years old |
The Tuscaloosa Fire Department and University of Alabama Police Department responded to a call at 12:19 p.m. at the dining hall at Mary Burke where Kimani had collapsed. He was transported by ambulance to DCH.
Alabama team physician, Dr. Jimmy Robinson said that Kimani “collapsed while eating lunch and was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m.”
UA head track coach, Harvey Glance said, “you just don’t know the uncertainty of life, David was more than just a great athlete but a great person. He thrilled the staff, the teammates, the country and the whole world.
“In all my travels, I never heard one bad thing said about David and that’s a true testament to him and his life. He always had a smile and a positive attitude, but was the fiercest competitor I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“His heart was bigger than this state. Most of the talks we had weren’t about track and field, but about life. My sympathy goes out to David’s family and to Chamis (wife) and her family. David’s gone to a much better place.”
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of David’s death,” said Mal Moore, UA’s Director of Athletics. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Chamis and his family in Nairobi, Kenya. David had a profound impact on the international track scene and brought a number of national championships to the Capstone.”
Kimani was a six-time national champion and 14-time All-American as a member of the Crimson Tide track team. He helped lead the Tide to a second place finish at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships. He was also a two-time SEC Cross Country Athlete of the Year and won the 1999 NCAA Cross Country title as a freshman at the University of South Alabama.
Kimani won the NCAA 1999 cross county title; the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meter
runs in 2000 and 2001 and the 5,000 meter outdoor championship in 2002.