Washington State University Athletics
Cougars to Dedicate Henry Rono Statue Friday
April 21, 2026 | Track & Field
PULLMAN, Wash. (April 22, 2026) – Washington State Athletics will recognize the legacy of WSU Hall of Fame track student-athlete Henry Rono with a statue dedication in his honor Friday, April 24 in Pullman.
The dedication ceremony will be held Friday at 11 a.m. on the north end of Mooberry Track, the public is welcome to attend. WSU Director of Cross Country/Track Wayne Phipps and WSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow are scheduled to make comments during the 30-minute ceremony. The statue depicts Rono wearing his WSU uniform and was created by WSU alum and former Cougar tennis player Ott Jones.
Rono, who arrived at WSU from Kenya in 1976, went on to have arguably the greatest career of any Cougar athlete in school history. During his time at WSU (1976-81), Rono dominated college distance running during his cross country and indoor-outdoor track career (1976-81), winning six NCAA titles and setting six collegiate outdoor records and four indoor marks.
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.
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.
In 2016, Rono was named the Pac-12 Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Century while in 2022, he was inducted as part of the inaugural class into the USTFCCCA College Hall of Fame.
Surrounding the dedication ceremony Friday for Rono, WSU Men's and Women's Track teams are hosting the Cougar Classic meet at Mooberry Track. The teams will recognize their senior class in a brief ceremony at 11:30 on the northwest corner of the infield.
The dedication ceremony will be held Friday at 11 a.m. on the north end of Mooberry Track, the public is welcome to attend. WSU Director of Cross Country/Track Wayne Phipps and WSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow are scheduled to make comments during the 30-minute ceremony. The statue depicts Rono wearing his WSU uniform and was created by WSU alum and former Cougar tennis player Ott Jones.
Rono, who arrived at WSU from Kenya in 1976, went on to have arguably the greatest career of any Cougar athlete in school history. During his time at WSU (1976-81), Rono dominated college distance running during his cross country and indoor-outdoor track career (1976-81), winning six NCAA titles and setting six collegiate outdoor records and four indoor marks.
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.
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.
In 2016, Rono was named the Pac-12 Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Century while in 2022, he was inducted as part of the inaugural class into the USTFCCCA College Hall of Fame.
Surrounding the dedication ceremony Friday for Rono, WSU Men's and Women's Track teams are hosting the Cougar Classic meet at Mooberry Track. The teams will recognize their senior class in a brief ceremony at 11:30 on the northwest corner of the infield.
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