Would Henry Rono be a contender today?

To MAPIV

You are right I had more speed.I didnt focus on running 1500m to go under 7:30 minutes for 3k.

I just finish Twelve mile loop for 99 minutes.I am getting ready for this coming weekend.Ready Henry Rono's Blog

Henry

MAPIV wrote:

Henry ran 8:05.4 in May in Seattle.

In a rainstorm, in front of 200 people.

Yep,when I look back now on 4WRs,I find it was very easy.I needed a little push to meet in what they are doing nowadays.

1) No push in the race with me.

2) No Good meals to eat.

3) No Good communication with the coach.Stay in

4) No good spirit only using alcohol to boost my spirit.

That was my best education I have learned in the world of running,which was hardway.

Thanks

Henry

my fading memory remembers that the 10000 wasn't much of a premiere event in vienna that day either. anyone remember specifics?

That was remarkable. Given the benefits of today's training and gear, I think Henry could hang with anyone. I will admit that his mile speed was not as great as some of the Ethiopians, however, he rarely ran the race.

Considering 13:20 or so won the WC this year, I think Henry in his prime would've won big.

It was a delight to watch Henry and his teammates run in Pullman back in the day.

His best day was the NCAA semi's of the 5k and steeple. A 13:21 5k and 8:18 steeple, same day and I think it was within two hour of each other. Yet those times do tell the story. He was like a kid running, falling getting up and running. He ran those two races by himself, sprinting, cruising, sprinting. It was unbelivable. On that day if he had had a pacer and focused on one race, wow, approaching 12:45 and 26:40. One last thing on his lack of speed. Some of his races that year he would drop a 57 second lap in the middle of a race and then cruise. Those of us that saw him know. Those of you who have read about him are the doubters. Do not doubt, believe us. He was that good.

I am off tomorrow, I will go through all my 1978 issues of T&F news and try to recreate that 1978 season. I will then post what was said at the time HR had the greatest single season in T&F history.

oldoldrunner wrote:

I am off tomorrow, I will go through all my 1978 issues of T&F news and try to recreate that 1978 season. I will then post what was said at the time HR had the greatest single season in T&F history.

Don't waste good time.

1978

8:18.3hi 2 Los Angeles CA 21-Jan

27:48.6h 1 Auckland 28-Jan

8:20.0hi 3 San Diego CA 17-Feb

13:08.4h WR 1 Dual Meet Berkeley CA 8-Apr

8:14.8 1 Dual Meet Eugene OR 15-Apr

8:05.4h WR 1 Dual Meet Seattle WA 13-May

27:46.6h 1 Pac 10 Corvallis OR 19-May

8:18.6 1 NCAAq Eugene OR 1-Jun

13:21.8 1 NCAAq Eugene OR 1-Jun

8:12.4 1 NCAA Eugene OR 3-Jun

27:22.47 WR 1 Wien 11-Jun

8:16.2h 1 Mombasa 17-Jun

7:41.5 1 Köln 22-Jun

5:04.5 1 Oslo 27-Jun

7:32.1h WR 1 Bislett Oslo 27-Jun

8:16.8h 1 Helsinki 28-Jun

27:58.9h 1 Al Jazair 20-Jul

8:15.8 1 Al Jazair 25-Jul

8:17.5 2 Koblenz 7-Sep Loss to Malinowski

27:53.8 1 London 9-Sep

8:14.7 2 London 15-Sep Loss to Ovett

1 Henry Rono KEN 8.05.4 1 Seattle May 13

2 Bronislaw Malinowski POL 8.11.63 1 Berlin Aug 18

3 Patriz Ilg FRG 8.16.92 2 Prague Sep 3

4 Ismo Toukonen FIN 8.18.29 3 Prague Sep 3

5 Michael Karst FRG 8.19.01 4 Prague Sep 3

6 Douglas Brown USA 8.19.29 2 Berlin Aug 18

7 Krzystof Wesolowsky POL 8.19.53 3 Berlin Aug 18

8 Paul Copu ROM 8.20.41 5 Prague Sep 3

9 George Malley USA 8.21.72 3 Stockholm Jul 4

10 Henry Marsh USA 8.22.5 2 Helsinki Jun 28

11 Julian Marsay RSA 8.22.63 1 Lausanne Jul 13

12 Paul Thijs BEL 8.22.8 1 Sittard Jun 18

13 James Munyala KEN 8.23.5 3 Helsinki Jun 28

14 Sergey Olizarenko URS 8.24.0 2 Dortmund Jul 01

15 Dan Glans SWE 8.24.5 4 Berlin Aug 18

16 Vasile Bichea ROM 8.24.86 6 Prague Sep 03

17 Kazimierz Maranda POL 8.25.8 2 Warsaw Jun 19

18 Dennis Coates GBR 8.25.98 1 Edinburgh Jul 16

19 George Kiprotich Rono KEN 8.26.38 3 Al Jazair Jul 25

20 Vladimir Lisovskiy URS 8.26.4 1 Podolsk Aug 12

21 John Davies GBR 8.26.64 2 Edinburgh Jul 16

22 Nicolae Voicu ROM 8.26.6 3 Warsaw Jun 19

23 Eshetu Tura ETH 8.27.67 4 Alger Jul 25

24 Manfred Schoeneberg FRG 8.27.82 3 Köln Aug 12

25 Vladimir Filonov URS 8.27.9 3 Dortmund Jul 01

1 Henry Rono KEN 13.08.4 1 Berkeley Apr 8

2 Ilie Floroiu ROM 13.15.0 1 Bucharest Jul 23

3 Martin Liquori USA 13.16.21 1 Stockholm Jul 4

4 Rodney Dixon NZL 13.17.37 2 Stockholm Jul 4

5 Fernando Mamede POR 13.17.76 3 Stockholm Jul 4

6 Frank Zimmermann FRG 13.18.20 4 Stockholm Jul 4

7 Markus Ryffel SUI 13.19.97 2 Zürich Aug 16

8 Venanzio Ortis ITA 13.20.72 3 Zürich Aug 16

9 Gerard Tebroke NED 13.21.68 4 Zürich Aug 16

10 Jos Hermens NED 13.21.9 1 Nijmegen Jul 9

11 Willy Polleunis BEL 13.24.0 3 Brussels Aug 18

12 Radhouanne Bouster FRA 13.24.09 6 Stockholm Jul 04

13 Aleksandr Fedotkin URS 13.24.10 1h Prague Aug 31

14 Karl Fleschen FRG 13.24.3 2 Köln Aug 13

15 Wilson Waigwa KEN 13.24.43 2 London Jun 24

16 David Fitsimmons AUS 13.24.65 1 Lausanne Jul 13

17 Michael Musyoki KEN 13.24.89 5 Zürich Aug 16

18 Mike McLeod GBR 13.25.20 1 Edinburgh Jul 16

19 Craig Virgin USA 13.25.41 7 Stockholm Jul 04

19 Brendan Foster GBR 13.25.41 2 Edinburgh Jul 16

21 Nick Rose GBR 13.25.44 3 London Jun 24

22 Rudy Chapa USA 13.25.57 1 Eugene May 06

23 Anthony Simmons GBR 13.25.67 2 Lausanne Jul 13

24 Dick Quax NZL 13.26.0 2 Christchurch Jan 21

25 Emiel Puttemans BEL 13.26.4 2 Nijmegen Jul 09

1 Henry Rono KEN 27.22.47 1 Wien Jun 11

2 Brendan Foster GBR 27.30.30 1 London Jun 23

3 Martti Vainio FIN 27.30.99 1 Prague Aug 29

4 Venanzio Ortis ITA 27.31.48 2 Prague Aug 29

5 Aleksandr Antipov URS 27.31.50 3 Prague Aug 29

6 David Black GBR 27.36.27 5 Prague Aug 29

7 Gerard Tebroke NED 27.36.64 6 Prague Aug 29

8 Ilie Floroiu ROM 27.40.06 7 Prague Aug 29

9 Enn Sellik URS 27.40.61 8 Prague Aug 29

10 Knut Kvalheim NOR 27.41.26 9 Prague Aug 29

11 Jos Hermens NED 27.48.4 1 Groningen Aug 04

12 Gerard Barrett AUS 27.51.4 1 Melbourne Dec 14

13 Toshihiko Seko JPN 27.51.61 1 Stockholm Jul 03

14 Detlef Uhlemann FRG 27.52.09 2 Stockholm Jul 03

15 Domingo Tibaduiza Reyes COL 27.53.02 2 Wien Jun 11

16 Jerzy Kowol POL 27.53.61 10 Prague Aug 29

17 Douglas Brown USA 27.54.19 3 Stockholm Jul 03

18 John Treacy IRL 27.55.2 1 Philadelphia Apr 27

19 Ryszard Kopijasz POL 27.56.06 4 Stockholm Jul 03

20 Craig Virgin USA 27.57.2 1 Helsinki Jun 29

21 Toshiaki Kamata JPN 27.57.9 3 Helsinki Jun 29

22 Pierre Lévisse FRA 27.58.05 5 Stockholm Jul 03

23 Joel Cheruiyot KEN 27.58.9 3 Wien Jun 11

24 Anatoliy Badrankov URS 27.59.0 1 Tashkent Nov 03

25 Takeshi Soh JPN 27.59.31 6 Stockholm Jul 03

Career yearly bests

1978 8.05.4 1 Seattle May 13

1979 8.17.92 1 Champaign Jun 2

1977 13.22.1 14 Rieti Aug 28

1978 13.08.4 1 Berkeley Apr 8

1979 13.19.65 9 Rieti Jul 21

1980 13.19.8 10 Oslo Jul 15

1981 13.06.20 1 Knarvik Sep 13

1982 13.08.97 4 Stockholm Jul 6

1977 27.37.08 3 London Sep 9

1978 27.22.47 1 Wien Jun 11

1980 27.31.68 2 Melbourne Feb 6

1981 27.40.78 5 Brussels Aug 28

1982 27.28.67 5 Oslo Jun 26

on the runs wrote:

Where did I mention anything about age? How can Ritzenhein and Hall be exceptions when the whole state of Colorado is well above sea level? Why can't eighteen year old Kenyans, eager to advance their educations in America, be allowed to vie for scholarships as well? Would a Mombassa native do it for you?

Why is it so hard for you to understand that Colorado's altitude is an exception in the United States??

Do you think all 50 states and territories are above sea level???

I don't think any one would have a problem with any 18 year old from any country being on any college XC or Track team, where there were age limits and scholarship limits for foreign runners.

Just remember there is no country in the world offering athletic scholarship for 18 year old American runners.

To embellish malmo's list, it's worth noting Henry also won golds at the Commonwealth & All-Africa Games

It wasn't "long after." From memory and not a web check, it was like 2 years, and that ain't long.

Think about how many titles and races Rono took from Salazar by being 6 years older, as a Freshman, and by being given a pass through at WSU, and according to Henry being paid 20 bucks a day (to drink)? And do you think that was the first time they raced?

As the 6 year age difference, at that time of life, it is huge. When we were 18 at Oregon, we knew we were college kids on some level, and when we met someone 24...they seemed adult to us. I remember meeting a 23 year old alumn at Oregon, when I was 18, and the dude seemed old and adult to me. He actually had a career. I was just taking classes, y'know.

Another aspect I wonder about, is supposedly Henry was going to college in Kenya when he came over here. Did his transcripts come with him as a transfer student? Did Chapman try to get his units to apply to his WSU degree? Or did Chapman ignore them in order to have a full 4 years eligibility for Henry? (I know he could have graduated and still competed, but Chaplin may have feared Henry would leave his clutches once he had his degree/s. The whole situation seemed shady at the time, and by Henry's revelations WAS shady.

As to Salazar, in my opinion, trying to catch up with, and get as good as Henry, contributed to Salazar's running health demise. Salazar might have been obsessed anyway and ended up in the same place anyway, we'll never know, but I think Henry and co. landing at WSU had an accelerating effect...

...Salazar needed to be seriously policed by someone like Bowerman. Dellinger sorta had the right idea but was too laid back to be a commanding leader like Bowerman. I.E., Dellinger would convey the message with seriousness, but he lacked the bite and that long arm of the law aspect that Bowerman used to get dunder headed young runners to wise up, or at least obey the coaching and rules.

Henry Rono wrote:To MAPIV

You are right I had more speed.I didnt focus on running 1500m to go under 7:30 minutes for 3k

Henry

I believe you are underestimating yourself

You or malmo can provide the exact splits, but I believe you split ~ 3'50/3'42 that day, which basically for you was a jog for initial 1500m & then a push.

Just with even pacing, going thru in ~ 3'45, you would have run very close to 7'30-flat, just off your ability at the time with no specific concentration on 1500 training required

Worth noting to posters that WR at the time was Foster's 7'35.2, & the likely target was to break just that & not actually concentrate on a specific "magical" barrier of 7'30

7'34 would have done the same job that day

One Who Was There wrote:

Another aspect I wonder about, is supposedly Henry was going to college in Kenya when he came over here.

Why make up shit? Henry was in the Kenayns army before he came to WSU.

Ngong Hillman wrote:

One Who Was There wrote:

Another aspect I wonder about, is supposedly Henry was going to college in Kenya when he came over here.

Why make up shit? Henry was in the Kenayns army before he came to WSU.

Can you not read and comprehend English?

I wrote "I wonder" and "supposedly," as I have read it in the press about Henry, and have yet to see it verified by Henry or another knowledgeable source yet.

"Suppose" means "it is supposed."

Ya dig?

re: malmo's list

- how few africans

- how much henry's season was wrapped up in june

- and what's up with these 3 races in 2 days??

5:04.5 1 Oslo 27-Jun

7:32.1h WR 1 Bislett Oslo 27-Jun

8:16.8h 1 Helsinki 28-Jun

les run wrote:

re: malmo's list

- how few africans

- how much henry's season was wrapped up in june

- and what's up with these 3 races in 2 days??

5:04.5 1 Oslo 27-Jun

7:32.1h WR 1 Bislett Oslo 27-Jun

8:16.8h 1 Helsinki 28-Jun

and where is Lasse Viren?

One Who Was There wrote:

I wrote "I wonder" and "supposedly," as I have read it in the press about Henry, and have yet to see it verified by Henry or another knowledgeable source yet.

"Suppose" means "it is supposed."

Ya dig?

No I don't "dig". Rono never "supposedly" went to college in Kenya. He was in the Army. That was always known. There is no reason to verify.

les run wrote:

re: malmo's list

- how few africans

- how much henry's season was wrapped up in june

- and what's up with these 3 races in 2 days??

5:04.5 1 Oslo 27-Jun

7:32.1h WR 1 Bislett Oslo 27-Jun

8:16.8h 1 Helsinki 28-Jun

unmmm.... 5:04.5 and 7:32.1 are the same race.

Ngong Hillman wrote:

One Who Was There wrote:

I wrote "I wonder" and "supposedly," as I have read it in the press about Henry, and have yet to see it verified by Henry or another knowledgeable source yet.

"Suppose" means "it is supposed."

Ya dig?

No I don't "dig". Rono never "supposedly" went to college in Kenya. He was in the Army. That was always known. There is no reason to verify.

You still have trouble reading and comprehending, don't you? It was absolutely in the press that Henry was in college in Kenya when Chaplin found him.

So why don't you shut the f*** up with your accusations of people "making shit up," it was a long time ago, and in the long history of press on Henry, and the web, a lot may have been reported that was erroneous, if I find the article that stated that, I'll post a link - but googles search of scanned articles from 30+ years ago is unreliable as it uses technology to search words within scanned pictures of articles and doesn't always deliver the same articles twice.

And learn how to read, asshole, before you accuse people of "making shit up."

Another person might have posted "Where did you hear Henry was in college before WSU, link?" Or "Henry was in the Army, before WSU, not college."

There is definitely an article out there that stated Henry was in college when recruited to WSU. So you can stop being a baby about it and shut the f*** up.

Henry can well defend himself (which this isn't about) or clarify history (which this is about).

The villain is Chaplin, not Henry.