Henry Rono
Encyclopedia
Henry Rono is a Kenya
n former athlete.
, Kenya, into the Nandi
tribe. He started running while at primary school. Starting in 1976 he attended the Washington State University
, along with his compatriot Samson Kimobwa
, who broke the 10,000 meter world record in 1977. He was coached there by John Chaplin
. More Kenyan runners would later enroll at the Washington State, including Bernard Lagat
, Mike Kosgei, and Patrick Muturi. While at Washington State, Rono became only the third person in history (after Gerry Lindgren
and Steve Prefontaine
) to win the NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship three times, doing so in 1976, 1977, and 1979. His winning time of 28:07 in 1976 remains the fastest 10,000 meter cross country time in NCAA history (although in 2008 Galen Rupp
ran 27:41 at the NCAA regional meet on a course that was said to be 80 meters short of the regular measure). He was also NCAA steeplechase champion in 1978 and 1979 and NCAA Indoor Champion in the 3000 meters in 1977.
The peak of Rono's running career was the 1978 season. In a span of only 81 days, he broke four world records: the 10,000 meters (27:22.5), the 5,000 meters (13:08.4), the 3,000 meters steeplechase (8:05.4), and the 3,000 meters (7:32.1); an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running. He lowered the 10,000 meter record by almost 8 seconds, the 5,000 by 4.5, the steeplechase by 2.6, and the 3,000 by a full three seconds. In the same year he also won the 5000 m and the 3000 m steeplechase gold medals at the Commonwealth Games
. Among his other performances was a steeplechase / 5000 m double in one day during qualifying at the NCAA championships at the University of Oregon
at Eugene
's Hayward Field
. He set meet records in both events, turning in an 8:18 and 13:22. The former took 6 seconds off the NCAA meet record for the steeple. 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 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase gold medals at the 1978 All-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 5,000 meters of the year (13:19) and winning the NCAA cross country championships in 1979, running one of history's fastest 10,000 meter races in 1980 (27:31.68), having a strong year in the 5,000 meters with several high quality races, including another 5,000 m world record (13:06.20) in 1981, and running history's third fastest 5,000 meters (13:08.9) as well as twice running under 27:30 to come within seconds of his world record for 10,000 meters in 1982.
Rono would never get to compete at the Olympics
, as his country boycotted both the 1976
and the 1980 Olympic Games
and by 1984 he was no longer competing.
His 3,000 m steeplechase world record (8:05.4) stood for 11 years, and, as of 2011, still stands as the NCAA
record. His 10,000 meter world record remained the fastest 10,000 meter time ever run by an NCAA athlete until Sam Chelanga
ran 27:08 in 2010 at the Payton Jordan
invitational
Today, Rono is coaching high school athletics in Albuquerque, New Mexico
and pursuing a graduate degree in special education. After turning 55 in February 2007, Rono is attempting to break the world masters mile record for the 55-59 age group. He also wrote his autobiography, entitled Olympic Dream
, in 2007.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n former athlete.
Biography
Rono was born in Nandi HillsNandi Hills, Kenya
Nandi Hills is a highland area of lush green rolling hills at the edge of the Great Rift Valley in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The scenic area is known for its tea estates, and is home to many world-renowned athletes, including Kipchoge Keino, Nandi Hills is a highland area of lush green...
, Kenya, into the Nandi
Nandi people
The Nandi people are a number of Kenyan tribes living in the highland areas of the Nandi Hills in Rift Valley Province who speak the Nandi languages. They are a sub-group of the Kalenjin people....
tribe. He started running while at primary school. Starting in 1976 he attended the Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, along with his compatriot Samson Kimobwa
Samson Kimobwa
Samson Kimobwa is a retired runner from Kenya. He set a new 10000 metres wold record of 27:30.5 on June 30, 1977 in Helsinki, Finland. The record was broken next year by his compatriot Henry Rono. Before Kimobwa, the record was held by David Bedford of Great Britain.Apart from the world record,...
, who broke the 10,000 meter world record in 1977. He was coached there by John Chaplin
John Chaplin
John Chaplin is a former track and field coach at Washington State University. He was head coach of the 2000 U.S. men’s Olympic Track & Field team....
. More Kenyan runners would later enroll at the Washington State, including Bernard Lagat
Bernard Lagat
Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat is an American middle and long distance champion athlete.Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya...
, Mike Kosgei, and Patrick Muturi. While at Washington State, Rono became only the third person in history (after Gerry Lindgren
Gerry Lindgren
Gerald Paul Lindgren is an American track and field runner who is widely recognized as having been the best high school long distance runner in the United States at the time....
and Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
) to win the NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship three times, doing so in 1976, 1977, and 1979. His winning time of 28:07 in 1976 remains the fastest 10,000 meter cross country time in NCAA history (although in 2008 Galen Rupp
Galen Rupp
Galen Rupp is an American cross-country and track and field athlete, who competed for the University of Oregon and currently trains under Alberto Salazar as a member of the Oregon Track Club. Rupp competed for his native country in the men's 10000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing,...
ran 27:41 at the NCAA regional meet on a course that was said to be 80 meters short of the regular measure). He was also NCAA steeplechase champion in 1978 and 1979 and NCAA Indoor Champion in the 3000 meters in 1977.
The peak of Rono's running career was the 1978 season. In a span of only 81 days, he broke four world records: the 10,000 meters (27:22.5), the 5,000 meters (13:08.4), the 3,000 meters steeplechase (8:05.4), and the 3,000 meters (7:32.1); an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running. He lowered the 10,000 meter record by almost 8 seconds, the 5,000 by 4.5, the steeplechase by 2.6, and the 3,000 by a full three seconds. In the same year he also won the 5000 m and the 3000 m steeplechase gold medals at the Commonwealth Games
1978 Commonwealth Games
The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...
. Among his other performances was a steeplechase / 5000 m double in one day during qualifying at the NCAA championships at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
at Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
's Hayward Field
Hayward Field
Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon's football team from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams since 1921...
. He set meet records in both events, turning in an 8:18 and 13:22. The former took 6 seconds off the NCAA meet record for the steeple. 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 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase gold medals at the 1978 All-Africa Games
Athletics at the 1978 All-Africa Games
The third All-Africa Games were held in July 1978 in Algiers, Algeria.New events were added to the athletics program; Decathlon and pentathlon, for men and women respectively, as well as men's 20 km road walk...
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 5,000 meters of the year (13:19) and winning the NCAA cross country championships in 1979, running one of history's fastest 10,000 meter races in 1980 (27:31.68), having a strong year in the 5,000 meters with several high quality races, including another 5,000 m world record (13:06.20) in 1981, and running history's third fastest 5,000 meters (13:08.9) as well as twice running under 27:30 to come within seconds of his world record for 10,000 meters in 1982.
Rono would never get to compete at the Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, as his country boycotted both the 1976
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
and the 1980 Olympic Games
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
and by 1984 he was no longer competing.
His 3,000 m steeplechase world record (8:05.4) stood for 11 years, and, as of 2011, still stands as the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
record. His 10,000 meter world record remained the fastest 10,000 meter time ever run by an NCAA athlete until Sam Chelanga
Sam Chelanga
Samuel Chelanga is a Kenyan cross country runner and track and field athlete who currently competes for Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He holds the NCAA record for the 10,000 meters run with a time of 27:08.49....
ran 27:08 in 2010 at the Payton Jordan
Payton Jordan
Payton Jordan was the head coach of the 1968 United States Olympic track and field team, one of the most powerful track teams ever assembled, which won a record twenty-four medals, including twelve golds. He was born in Whittier, California...
invitational
Today, Rono is coaching high school athletics in Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and pursuing a graduate degree in special education. After turning 55 in February 2007, Rono is attempting to break the world masters mile record for the 55-59 age group. He also wrote his autobiography, entitled Olympic Dream
Olympic Dream
Olympic Dream , is the autobiography of track-and-field legend Henry Rono, who completed the book in 2007.The book documents Rono's childhood in Kenya, his running career at Washington State University, and his meteoric climb to fame after breaking four world records in 81 days...
, in 2007.
Personal best
- 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)
External links
- Henry Rono's Web Site: Team Rono
- Excerpt from Henry Rono's autobiography, Olympic Dream
- Henry Rono at sporting-heroes.net
- The storied career of Henry Rono
- If I close my eyes, I can still see him now, a lean figure leading the pack - long distance runner Henry Rono
- Henry Rono explains his encounter with coach Chaplin
- Henry Rono and Me (PDF)
- The EastAfrican, May 6, 2002: From The Good Life To Car-Washing, Henry Rono Tasted it All