Henry Rono

Early life Rono was born in Nandi Hills, Kenya, into the Nandi tribe.

Athletics career Rono started running while at primary school. Starting in 1976, he attended college in the U.S. at Washington State University in Pullman, along with his compatriot Samson Kimobwa, who broke the 10,000 m world record in 1977. Rono was mentored on the Palouse by Cougar head coach John Chaplin. More Kenyan runners later enrolled at WSU, including Bernard Lagat, Mike Kosgei, Patrick Muturi, Richard Twuei, and Peter 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 (after Gerry Lindgren and Steve Prefontaine) to win the NCAA Cross Country Championship three times, in 1976, 1977, and 1979. His winning time of 28:07 in 1976, remains the fastest 10,000 m cross-country time in NCAA history (in 2008 Galen Rupp ran 27:41 at the NCAA regional meet on a course that was said to be 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.

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), the 5000 m (13:08.40), the 3000 m steeplechase (8:05.40), and the 3000 m (7:32.10); an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running.

That August, he also won the 5000 m and 3000 m steeplechase gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Canada at Edmonton. 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 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 the 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 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,

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

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

Death Rono died after a short illness on 15 February 2024, at the age of 72.

Personal bests 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)

Competition record

NCAA cross country