Henry Rono facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
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(s)	Long-distance running
College team	Washington State
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	Indoor Mile: 3:59.2 (Pullman 1977) 3000 m: 7:32.1 (Oslo 1978) 3000 m steeple: 8:05.4 (Seattle 1978) 2-Mile: 8:14.66 (London 1978) 5000 m: 13:06.20 (Knarvik 1981) 10,000 m: 27:22.47 (Vienna 1978)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Kenya All-Africa Games Gold 1978 Algiers 10000 m Gold 1978 Algiers 3000 m steeplechase Commonwealth Games Gold 1978 Edmonton 5000 m Gold 1978 Edmonton 3000 m steeplechase

Henry Rono (born 12 February 1952 – died 15 February 2024) was a famous Kenyan track and field athlete. He was amazing at many long-distance running events. Even though he never went to the Olympics, Henry Rono is remembered as one of the best college runners in United States history. He also held the world record for the 3000 metres steeplechase for more than ten years! Rono even broke the world record for the 5000 metres race twice, first in 1978 and again in 1981.

Henry Rono: A Running Champion

Henry Rono was born in Nandi Hills, Kenya. He belonged to the Nandi tribe. He started running when he was in primary school.

College Running in the U.S.

In 1976, Henry Rono moved to the U.S. for college. He went to Washington State University in Pullman. Another great runner from Kenya, Samson Kimobwa, also went there. Samson broke the 10,000 meter world record in 1977.

Their coach at Washington State was John Chaplin. He helped Henry Rono a lot. Many other Kenyan runners later joined Washington State University, like Bernard Lagat.

While at Washington State, Rono became one of only three runners ever to win the NCAA Cross Country Championship three times. He won in 1976, 1977, and 1979. His winning time in 1976 is still the fastest 10,000 meter cross-country time in NCAA history. He also won the NCAA steeplechase championship in 1978 and 1979. In 1977, he was the NCAA Indoor Champion for the 3000 meters.

His Amazing Year: 1978

The best year of Henry Rono's running career was 1978. In just 81 days, he broke four different world records! This is an achievement no other distance runner has ever matched.

He broke records for:

• 10,000 meters (27:22.5)
• 5000 meters (13:08.4)
• 3000 meters steeplechase (8:05.4)
• 3000 meters (7:32.1)

He lowered the 10,000 meter record by almost eight seconds. He also improved the 5000 meter record by 4.5 seconds. The steeplechase record was lowered by 2.6 seconds, and the 3000 meter record by a full three seconds.

In August of that year, he won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Canada. He won the 5000 meters and the 3000 meters steeplechase. He also won gold medals in the 10,000 meters and 3000 meters steeplechase at the All-Africa Games in July.

Continuing to Excel

Even though 1978 was his peak, Rono kept running at a very high level for the next four years. In 1979, he ran the world's fastest 5000 meters and won the NCAA cross country championships again.

In 1981, he set another world record for the 5000 meters (13:06.20). In 1982, he ran the third fastest 5000 meters ever. He also ran the 10,000 meters within seconds of his own world record twice.

Why No Olympics?

Henry Rono never got to compete in the Olympics. This was because his home country, Kenya, chose not to send athletes in 1976 and 1980. By the time the 1984 Olympics came around, he was no longer competing.

His Lasting Records

His world record for the 3000 meter steeplechase (8:05.4) stood for eleven years! As of 2023, it is still the fastest time ever run by a college athlete in the U.S.. His 10,000 meter world record was also the fastest time by an NCAA athlete until 2010.

Life After Running

After turning 55 in 2007, Henry Rono planned to try and break the world masters mile record for his age group. In 2007, he also published his autobiography, called Olympic Dream.

Rono coached high school athletics in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also studied to get a degree in special education. He was also a co-owner of two companies, Turbo Health Care Services Inc. and Rhinow Corp.

Henry Rono passed away on 15 February 2024, at the age of 72.

Personal Bests

These are Henry Rono's best times in different races:

• 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

See also

• List of Washington State University people
• In Spanish: Henry Rono para niños