Henry Rono (1987) - Hall of Fame - Washington State University Athletics

Henry Rono

Induction:
1987
Class:
1981

Perhaps at no time in the track and field world has one athlete gained so much attention so fast as Henry Rono. In 1978 he shocked those who follow track and field by establishing four world distance records in the span of 81 days, an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running. His streak began with a 5,000 meter record in Berkeley, Calif., April 8, 1978 and ended June 27 in Oslo, Norway, with a 3,000 meter record. In between he set the 3,000 meter steeplechase record in Seattle May 13 and the 10,000 meter mark in Vienna, Austria, June 11. Rono's accomplishments were not limited to those 81 days, however. In the same year he also won the 5000 meter and the 3000 meter steeplechase gold medals at the Common Wealth Games. He dominated college distance running during his cross country and indoor-outdoor track career, winning six NCAA titles and setting six collegiate outdoor records and four indoor marks. Following his record-setting spree in 1978 he received the following awards: Track and Field News Athlete-of-the-Year, Sport Magazine's track Athlete-of-the-Year, Associated Press European Sportswriters Sportsman-of-the-Year and North America winner of Helms Athletic Foundation World Trophy. Rono was a member of the Kenyan 1976 and 1980 Olympic teams, but missed competition because of boycotts. Shortly after receiving degrees in psychology and general studies from WSU in 1981, Rono broke his own world 5,000 meter mark, his fifth world record in a three-year span. Rono is a member of the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.