– Kenya’s Henry Rono, four records in 81 days, dies at 72
– Henry Rono, Kenyan athlete, sets four records in 81 days, passes away at 72.
Kenyan Distance Running Great Henry Rono Passes Away at 72
Just days after the devastating news of Kelvin Kiptum’s untimely death, Kenya mourns yet another loss as legendary distance runner Henry Rono passes away at the age of 72. Rono, who set four world records in just 81 days back in 1978, died on Thursday.
The news of Rono’s passing was officially announced by Athletics Kenya, expressing their condolences to his family, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity. Rono had been hospitalized at Nairobi South Hospital for the past 10 days.
A Remarkable Legacy in Distance Running
Rono’s incredible world record spree left an indelible mark on the sport. He made history in the 3000m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, and 10,000m events, with his records in the 3000m and 3000m steeplechase standing for over a decade.
Henry Rono was born on February 12, 1952, in Kiptaragon, Kenya’s Rift Valley. His journey in running began after a bicycle accident, which left him unable to walk until the age of six. Inspired by two-time Olympic champion Kip Keino, Rono embraced running as his passion.
In 1973, Rono joined the Kenyan Army and continued to excel in athletics. Although he was selected for the 1976 Olympic Games in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m events, he couldn’t participate due to the Kenyan boycott of the games held in Montreal.
While studying at Washington State University in the USA, Rono achieved numerous accolades. He won three NCAA cross-country titles in 1976, 1977, and 1979, and secured the NCAA indoor 3000m championship in 1977. Rono also clinched the NCAA 3000m steeplechase titles in 1978 and 1979.
His world record-breaking spree began on April 8, 1978, in Berkeley, California. Rono shattered the 5000m record, previously held by Dick Quax, by clocking an impressive time of 13:08.4 seconds.
Just over a month later, on May 13, Rono conquered the 3000m steeplechase record in Seattle, finishing in 8:05.4 seconds, surpassing the record set by Anders Garderud.
Rono’s dominance continued as he surpassed the world record in the 10,000m event on June 11, running a remarkable time of 27:22.47 in Vienna. This record-breaking feat surpassed Samson Kimobwa’s previous record by eight seconds.
Finally, on June 27, at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Rono clocked 7:32.1 seconds in the 3000m event, breaking Brendan Foster’s record.
A Life After Athletics
Rono’s remarkable career included a winning streak of 31 outdoor races in 1978. He claimed victories at the All-Africa Games in Algiers, where he won the 3000m steeplechase and 10,000m events, and at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, securing gold in the 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m.
After retiring from competitive athletics, Rono pursued a career as a teacher and coach. He graduated from Washington State University in 1981 with a degree in general studies.
In a 2003 interview with World Athletics, Rono reflected on his dual passions, saying, “My two dreams were created in the 1960s. I became a professional teacher and a track champion. The running profession came first in the early 1970s and ended 25 years later. The teaching profession began in the 1990s, and today, I enjoy it much better than the achievement of athletic celebrity.”
Henry Rono leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary achievements and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest distance runners in history.
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– Henry Rono records
– Henry Rono dies at 72.
