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Henry Rono to be buried in Nakuru

The family of legendary multiple record holder Henry Rono has called on the government to support their efforts to bury him on Wednesday February 28th at his home in Molo, Nakuru County.

Rono, who broke world records died on Thursday last week at Nairobi South Hospital, where he had been hospitalized where the family has requested the government to recognize some of the former athletes who won many medals after participating in various national races and put Kenya on the map to be recognized when he will be laid to rest at Seguton Village in Molo Constituency, Nakuru County.

One of the funeral organizers led by John Kurgat in Kabirirsang, said that he ran abroad setting new world records, bringing glory to this country.

“As a legend, we request that the governments of both the national and county governments of both Nakuru and Nandi to support us lay to rest the legend in a good way,” said Kurgat.

Another family member Christopher Kirongo said that they grew together as young boys, went to the Kenya Defence Forces together, circumcised together and he was a well hard working Kenyans.

“I want to request for a state burial because he was a national and world hero by breaking five world records. I want to request the government to support the family,” said Kirongo.

The words were also echoed by James Bett who said that as a legend and a hero of this country, they request that the government offer a field like training grounds in memory of Rono.

“If we have a national facility named under him, it will be an inspiration to the young people and the community at large,” said Bett.

Ron is well remembered for taking 81 days to break four world records in 10,000m (27:22.5), 5,000m (13:08.4) 3,000m steeplechase (8:05.4) and 3,000m (7:32.1).

He also lowered the 10,000m record by almost eight seconds, the 5000m by 4.5, the steeplechase by 2.6, and the 3000 by three seconds.

The man famously known as the Nandi Warrior spent close to 40 years in the United States, having arrived there in 1976 on an athletic scholarship at Washington State University.

While at Washington State, Rono became only the third runner in history (after Gerry Lindgren and Steve Prefontaine) to win the NCAA Cross Country Championship three times (1976, 1977, and 1979).

Although he was never quite as dominant as he was in 1978, Rono continued to run and compete at the same level for the next four years, running the world’s fastest 5,000m of the year (13:19) and winning the NCAA cross country championships in 1979.

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