How four world records in 81 days cemented Henry Rono's legacy as an athletics icon

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ATHLETICS How four world records in 81 days cemented Henry Rono's legacy as an athletics icon

Festus Chuma 15:33 - 15.02.2024

Henry Rono's legendary 81-day spree in 1978 shattered four world records in athletics, leaving an unmatched legacy in distance running.

Former multiple world record holder Henry Rono passed away in Nairobi on Thursday leaving behind a legacy that transcends generations. 

The Kenyan legend, who once mesmerized the world with his extraordinary feats on the track, died at 10:30 am at Nairobi South Hospital after a period of hospitalization. 

His demise marks the end of an era, but his achievements continue to inspire athletes and sports enthusiasts worldwide.

In this article Pulse Sports delves into the extraordinary feats of a man who, without the aid of pacemakers, redefined the limits of human endurance and speed.

The 10,000m record

On April 8, 1978, Rono took to the track in Berkeley, California, with his sights set on the 10,000m world record. 

He crossed the finish line in an astonishing 27 minutes and 22.5 seconds, shaving nearly 8 seconds off the previous record.

Shattering the 5,000m record

Just a month later, on June 11, Rono demonstrated his versatility and speed over shorter distances in Vienna, Austria, by breaking the 5,000m world record. 

His time of 13 minutes and 08.4 seconds was 4.5 seconds faster than the previous best, proving his extraordinary ability to maintain a blistering pace over the course of 12.5 laps.

The 3,000m steeplechase

Rono's prowess was not limited to flat races. On May 13, in Seattle, Washington, he tackled the 3,000m steeplechase, a grueling event that combines distance running with obstacles and water jumps. 

Rono's time of 8 minutes and 05.4 seconds broke the previous world record by 2.6 seconds.

 Dominance in the 3,000m flat

Completing his quartet of world records, Rono ran the 3,000m flat in 7 minutes and 32.1 seconds on June 27 in Oslo, Norway. 

This performance, which was 3 seconds faster than the previous record, demonstrated his unmatched speed and endurance over middle-distance events.

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