Henry Rono

Rono in 1978
Personal information
Nationality	Kenyan
Born	(1952-02-12)12 February 1952 Nandi Hills,Colony and Protectorate of Kenya
Died	15 February 2024(2024-02-15) (aged 72) Nairobi, Kenya
Sport
Sport	Track
Event	Long-distance running
College team	Washington State
Achievements and titles
Personalbests	IndoorMile: 3:59.2[1] (Pullman 1977) 3000 m: 7:32.1[1] (Oslo 1978) 3000 m steeple: 8:05.4[1] (Seattle 1978) 2-Mile: 8:14.66[1] (London 1978) 5000 m: 13:06.20[1] (Knarvik 1981) 10,000 m: 27:22.47[1] (Vienna 1978)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing Kenya All-Africa Games 1978 Algiers 10000 m 1978 Algiers 3000 m steeplechase Commonwealth Games 1978 Edmonton 5000 m 1978 Edmonton 3000 m steeplechase

Henry Rono (12 February 1952 – 15 February 2024) was a Kenyantrack and field athlete who specialised in variouslong-distance running events. Although he never competed at theOlympics, Rono is remembered as one of the most prolific collegiate competitors in the history of track in the United States, as well as being the former record holder for the3000 metres steeplechase for over a decade. Rono also set the world record for the5000 metres twice: once in 1978, then again in 1981.^[2][3][4]

Rono was born in Nandi Hills, Kenya, into theNandi tribe.

Rono started running while at primary school. Starting in 1976, he attended college in the U.S. atWashington State University inPullman, along with his compatriotSamson Kimobwa, who broke the 10,000 m world record in 1977.^[5] Rono was mentored on thePalouse by Cougar head coachJohn Chaplin.^[6] More Kenyan runners later enrolled at WSU, includingBernard Lagat,Mike Kosgei,Patrick Muturi,Richard Twuei, andPeter Koech, who won a silver medal in the 3,000 meters Steeplechase at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

While at Washington State, Rono became only the third runner in history (afterGerry Lindgren andSteve Prefontaine) to win theNCAA Cross Country Championship three times, in 1976, 1977, and 1979.^[7][8][9] His winning time of 28:07 in 1976,^[10] remains the fastest 10,000 m cross-country time in NCAA history (in 2008Galen Rupp ran 27:41 at the NCAA regional meet on a course that was said to be 80 m (87 yd) short of the regular measure). He was also NCAA steeplechase champion in 1978 and 1979 and NCAA Indoor Champion in the 3000 m in 1977.^[11]

The peak of Rono's running career was the 1978 season. In a span of only 81 days, he broke four world records:10,000 m (27:22.50), the5000 m (13:08.40), the3000 m steeplechase (8:05.40), and the 3000 m (7:32.10); an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running.^[6][11] He lowered the 10,000 record by almost eight seconds, the 5000 by 4.5, the steeplechase by 2.6, and the 3000 by a full three seconds.^[12][13] That August, he also won the5000 m and3000 m steeplechase gold medals at theCommonwealth Games inCanada atEdmonton.^[14] Among his other performances was a steeplechase / 5000 m double in one day during qualifying at theNCAA championships at theUniversity of Oregon atEugene'sHayward Field. He set meet records in both events, turning in an 8:18 and 13:22. The former took six seconds off the NCAA meet record for the steeplechase. When he ran the steeplechase final the next day, he won in 8:12.39, taking another six seconds off the steeplechase mark. He won 10,000 m and 3000 m steeplechase gold medals in July at theAll-Africa Games.

Although he was never quite as dominant as he was in 1978, Rono continued to run and compete at the same high level for the next four years, running the world's fastest 5000 meters of the year (13:19) and winning the NCAA cross country championships in 1979, running one of history's fastest 10,000 meters races in 1980 (27:31.68), having a strong year in the 5000 meters with several high quality races, including another 5,000 m world record (13:06.20) in 1981,^[2] and running history's third fastest 5000 meters (13:08.90) as well as twice running under 27:30 to come within seconds of his world record for 10,000 meters in 1982.

Rono never competed at theOlympics, as his countryKenya boycotted in1976 and1980; by1984, he was no longer competing.^[15][16]

His 3000 m steeplechase world record (8:05.40) stood for eleven years, and, as of 2023, still stands as thecollegiate record. His 10,000 meters world record remained the fastest time ever run by an NCAA athlete untilSam Chelanga's 27:08 in 2010 at thePayton Jordan invitational.

After turning 55 in February 2007, it was reported that Rono would attempt to break the world masters mile record for the 55–59 age group. 2007 was also the year Rono's autobiography,Olympic Dream, was published.

Rono coached high school athletics inAlbuquerque, New Mexico, and pursued a graduate degree in special education. He was also co-owner of Turbo Health Care Services and Rhinow Corp.

Rono died after a short illness on 15 February 2024, at the age of 72.^[17][18]

• One mile – 3:59.2 indoors (1977)
• 3000 metres – 7:32.1 (1978)
• 5000 metres – 13:06.20 (1981)
• 10,000 metres – 27:22.47 (1978)
• 3000 metres steeplechase – 8:05.4 (1978)

• List of Washington State University people

• Henry Rono atWorld Athletics
• Henry Rono's Web Site: Team RonoArchived 14 August 2012 at theWayback Machine
• The EastAfrican, 6 May 2002:From The Good Life To Car-Washing, Henry Rono Tasted it All

• 1952 births
• 2024 deaths
• Athletes from Nandi County
• Kenyan men middle-distance runners
• Kenyan men long-distance runners
• Kenyan men steeplechase runners
• Kenyan athletics coaches
• Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Kenya
• Commonwealth Games athletes for Kenya
• Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
• Washington State Cougars men's track and field athletes
• African Games gold medalists for Kenya
• African Games gold medalists in athletics (track and field)
• African Games athletes for Kenya
• Track & Field News Athlete of the Year winners
• Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 All-Africa Games
• Medallists at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
• United States collegiate record holders in athletics (track and field)
• NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners
• NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners
• 20th-century Kenyan sportsmen
• Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics

• Pages containing links to subscription-only content
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use British English from February 2024
• All Wikipedia articles written in British English
• Use dmy dates from February 2024
• Webarchive template wayback links