Aron Rono
THIS YEAR: Arguably the finest distance runner in the NAIA, senior Aron Rono is the 2-time reigning NAIA cross country champion who has his eyes set on becoming the first athlete ever to win 4 straight NAIA 10,000 titles ... Is an 11-time NAIA champion ... Is already an 8-time NAIA champion ... Holds 5 Azusa Pacific records, a GSAC record and an NAIA record.
2008: Led Azusa Pacific to a sweep of the NAIA indoor and outdoor national championships by winning 6 events, 3 in each meet ... Became the first collegian in history to win the 1500 (3:46.35), 5000 (14:23.81) and 10,000 (29:56.18) in a championship meet, taking all 3 events at the NAIA Outdoor Championships in Edwardsville, Ill. ... At the indoor championships in Johnson City, Tenn., won the mile (4:09.46) and the 3000 (8:17.87) and anchored the Cougar distance medley relay to a victory (10:04.37) as well ... Named the outstanding male performer of the NAIA indoor championships for a second consecutive year ... Broke his own school records in the 1500 (3:40.71 at the Occidental Invitational), 5000 (13:54.50 at the Stanford Invitational), and the 10,0000 (13:54.50) at the Mt. SAC Relays ... Set the GSAC record in the 1500 (3:45.84), helping Azusa Pacific garner an unprecedented tenth straight conference crown.
2007: Put together the finest season ever by a Cougar distance runner, breaking 4 school records while registering 5 NAIA titles, including 2 as an anchor on relays ... Led Azusa Pacific to its fifth NAIA indoor national championship by winning the mile (school-record 4:06.91) and 5000 (14:22.45) and then anchoring the distance medley relay to victory (10:06.11) ... For his effort, was named the Most Outstanding Male Performer of the NAIA Indoor Championship Meet ... At the NAIA Outdoor Championships in Fresno, Calif., successfully defended his NAIA 10,000-meter crown (30:47.25) ... Finished fourth in the 1500 (3:48.43) and anchored Azusa Pacific to an unprecedented fifth straight 4x800 title (7:30.70) ... Won the GSAC 1500 championship (3:48.60) ... Set the school record in the 10,000 meters with a 28:50.81 at the Stanford Invitational ... Broke the school-record in the 1500 with a 3:43.25 at the Occidental Invitational and used a 14:11.67 at the Mt. SAC Relays to establish a school record in the 5000.
CROSS COUNTRY: Is the reigning 2-time NAIA men’s cross country champion ... Won the 2008 national title with a 23:45.8, the fastest 5K at an NAIA meet in 9 years ... Became the first Cougar ever to capture the NAIA crown when he clocked a 23:52 in Kenosha, Wis., at the 2007 NAIA Championship Meet, beating his nearest opponent by 32 seconds ... Is a 4-time All-American in cross country, finishing no lower than third in any of the NAIA championship meets ... Is also a 3-time reigning GSAC champ ... Won 15 of the 18 meets he has raced in his 3-year Cougar career ... Owns a school-record 23:13 that he clocked at the 2007 Stanford Invitational.
LINDENWOOD: Competed at NAIA member Lindenwood University of St. Charles, Mo., during his 2006 freshman season ... Was the NAIA runner-up at the national cross country championship meet in Louisville, Ky., clocking a 23:55 to finish second behind then teammate and fellow Kenyan Siomo Kiplagat (23:49) ... Was also second to Kiplagat at the NAIA regional meet, running a 23:59 ... In track & field was a 2-time NAIA champion ... At the indoor championships, won the mile (4:11.37) and was second in the 3000 (8:24.33) ... Nearly pulled off a unique double victory at the NAIA Outdoor Championships, first winning the 10,000 meters (29:43.34) before coming back 2 nights later to finish second in the 5000 (14:32.38).
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Kurgung Boys High School in Kapsabet, Kenya.
PERSONAL: Born Nov. 1, 1982, in Kenya ... Parents are Jackson (farmer) and Leah (farmer) Towei ... Is 1 of 9 children ... Brother is Julius Randich, a former 7-time NAIA champion out of Lubbock Christian University and current record holder in the NAIA 5000 (13:41.81) and 10,000 (28:16.95) ... Majoring in political science.
RONO BESTS at AZUSA PACIFIC Year Mile 1500 5000 10,000 2007 4:06.91 3:43.25 14:11.67 28:50.81 2008 4:08.18 3:40.71 13:54.50 28:13.75
