Washington State University honour legend Henry Rono with statue; more run in his footsteps

The rolling hills and expansive plains of Eldoret, Kenya—the Home of Champions—and the Palouse hills surrounding Pullman, Washington, offer a nurturing terrain that trains the next generation of athletes.

Although separated by more than 14,000 kilometers, the two lands share a bond in farming and athletics training, and have a legacy of developing world-class runners who break records and make history.

The late Henry Rono, a celebrated collegiate athlete, was recently honoured by his alma mater, Washington State University, where he dominated the 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000-metre races, as well as the 3,000-metre steeplechase. The recognition of the legendary Kenyan athlete, who passed away in February 2024, was commemorated with a live sculpture on campus this semester.

Rono was celebrated for setting four world records in 81 days in 1978, bringing awe and praise to WSU for his extraordinary physical ability to dominate the track.

In just under three months, 81 days, Rono set world records, bringing praise to the Palouse hills, a distinctive feature of the terrain where the Washington State University main campus is located in eastern Washington State.

The 2.13-meter-tall, 159-kilogram bronze Rono sculpture stands in one of the fields at the north end of Mooberry Track, near Flag Lane, which connects major campus roads, including Cougar Way and Stadium Way.

Rono’s bronze statue, created by wildlife and sporting sculptor and WSU alum Ott Jones, stands on the track where he trained daily nearly five decades ago. In the college town, the late Rono was also honoured with a ground plaque on the Walk of Fame by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce during the national Lentil Festival this August.

The unveiling of a large bronze statue at WSU this September marked one of the unique honours to celebrate a humble yet accomplished man who dominated track and field, leaving an unmatched legacy in athletics.

Standing tall by the fields in crimson and grey, the colours of WSU's signature school spirit, the figurine of the great athlete inspires awe, catching the eye of students as they arrive from the central bus station at Flag Lane and walk past the fields towards their classes and off campus.

The campus that nurtured his extraordinary talent now immortalizes his legacy, inspiring new generations of runners who follow in his footsteps and aspire to achieve greatness on the global stage.

Now, almost 50 years later, where Rono dominated, two promising and rising Kenyan athletes, second-year students Evans Kurui and Solomon Kipchoge, are following in his footsteps.

In September of last year, Kurui broke a 49-year-old college athletics record, and this past weekend, Kipchoge won gold in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in Columbia, Missouri, setting a course record and personal-best time of 22 minutes, 24.7 seconds.

Kurui and Kipchoge are writing the next chapter, chasing new times and new dreams, carrying both their country’s pride and the university’s legacy to the finish line, writing history once again like their fellow Kenyan athlete did, bringing nostalgic memories of Rono’s exploits.

For both athletes, their wins in the field bring back the legacy of a man who, despite his death last year, lives on through the athletics record, a Walk of Fame recognition, and a bronze statue.

As accolades and medals fill their trophy cabinets, Kipchoge and Kurui remain grounded, balancing a strict training program with their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management at Washington State University.

“Being at the same school and on the same track that the late Rono dominated is a constant reminder of his greatness, and I’m committed to carrying on the legacy he left behind,” Kurui said during a recent interview at WSU’s Northwest Public Broadcasting studios.

Kurui was first inspired to participate in athletics during high school games in Kenya, from watching the spectacular podium finishes of world and Olympic record holder David Rudisha and Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei.

Coming from Merewet village in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, Kurui grew up in a region known for producing world-class runners, where the high-altitude terrain and a culture of athletics shaped his early passion for long-distance running.

“I believe that God’s timing is the best, and I have loved athletics since primary school. I grew up watching and admiring runners and started running professionally. I’m the only one in my family who chose professional running—my siblings all went into other fields,” said Kurui, the youngest in a family of six who says they cheer him on in every race.

He mentioned one of his coaches in Kenya, who also played a part in nurturing his talent. “Barnabas Kitilit, one of the greatest athletics coaches who believed in me first and encouraged me to stay disciplined and aim for the top prize, "said Kurui during an interview at the Mooberry Track, the WSU training track.

Kipchoge, who hails from Kapsabet, credits his success to the mentorship of Kenyan middle-distance runner and former world champion Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei, who organized and hosted athletic camps during school holidays to mentor him and other emerging athletes, laying the foundation for his current winning streaks. 

“Jepkosgei is a superwoman! I have also developed under the mentorship of top former athletes and  Chairman of Youth Development at Athletics Kenya , Barnabas Korir, who have stayed committed to ensuring that the Kenyan running spirit is maintained at home and globally.”

Kipchoge appreciates that Pullman’s terrain and farming culture evoke a sense of nostalgia while providing a conducive environment for training, running, and studying. He  admits that managing life as an athlete and student requires a strict routine of personal discipline, teamwork, and effective time management.

“Balancing classes and training is never easy, but both are important to me. With supportive coaches, top-notch WSU facilities, and a strict schedule for studying and running, I stay focused on both academics and athletics,” said Kipchoge.

During their biggest races, Kurui and Kipchoge value team spirit and the support from Wayne Phipps, the Director of Cross Country Track and Field, along with the entire WSU sports team and faculty, who help keep them focused on the finish line and the prize.

To represent Kenya on the global stage, Kurui and Kipchoge recognize that this consistently demonstrates Kenya's status as the birthplace of world-class athletes and a nation that produces exceptional talent in long-distance running.

“Rono is a true inspiration, and we are honoured to be associated with him. We aim to not only break his athletic record but also inspire other athletes to follow in his footsteps,” said Kipchoge.

“We are working closely with coaches and athletes to ensure we remain the undisputed champions. We are optimistic about breaking these records and leaving an even greater legacy for Washington State University and for our country, Kenya,” Kipchoge said confidently.

Jack Thompson, a former NFL quarterback and one of the greatest in Washington State University's football history, recalls Rono’s legacy and briefly shares stories of when he ran into Rono on campus in the late 1970s.

“Rono wasn't a big guy, in physical stature, but he was a big man on campus. Rono was an amazing athlete. He was a very kind man who always wore a smile. I remember that spring day in 1978 when he walked into the training room as I was getting ready for football practice, a smile on his face. He had just come back from a jog in Lewiston [Idaho], hadn’t broken a sweat, and made it look like he had just finished a nice walk. For Rono to have a statue on campus is appropriate,” added Thompson, noting that this kind of school spirit resonates with the recent national recognition, where Washington State University claimed the top position in the “Their Students Love These Colleges” category —a celebration of the deep connection students feel to their university.

Glenn Osterhout, a 1983 WSU alum and co-founder of CougsFirst!, a business network of WSU alumni and friends, recalls the electrifying team spirit and jubilation of the late 1970s when Rono dominated track and field events, race after race, unapologetically breaking records. 

“Rono was an elite athlete. We would go to the track meets to watch him run in the 5,000-meter race, and he would win by three-quarters of a track—there was nobody even close to Rono. He was phenomenal!” said Osterhout, who is also a former WSU student body president.

Osterhout adds that even today, WSU is home to talented athletes who embody a distinct crimson and grey culture of renowned competitors within a large university that maintains a friendly, close-knit atmosphere reminiscent of a small college town. 

For now, Kurui remains committed to breaking records and earning fame and respect for the Palouse hills, as well as keeping his country at the forefront of athletics.

With every race, Kipchoge also honours those who came before him, like Rono, and races to the finish line, to mark the beginning of a new legacy, inspiring the next generation.