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From the Chronicles of Bill Killian |
1977 -NCAA -Thurs. June 2, Steeple Heats, Freshman, Henry Rono, NCAA individual XC Champ wins his qualifying heat -8:41.35. Fri. June 3, Finals, 10,000 meters, Rono led the first lap in 67.1, dropped off after 8,000 meters to finish a non-scoring 10th -29:22.61. Sat. June 4, Finals, 3,000 meters Steeplechase. James Munyala (UTEP) goes for his third straight title. |
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| Bruce Bickford (Northeastern) leads the steeple. |
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| Henry Marsh (Brigham Young) moves up through the field (stepping on barrier). He was 2nd last year. |
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| 1) James Munyala (UTEP) 8:29.51. | 2) Henry Rono (WSU) 8:31.12. | 3) Henry Marsh (BYU) 8:32.06. |
| In the '76 NCAA -Washington State University swept the 5,000 meters!
1) Josh Kimeto (Washington State University) ...............13:47.84 |
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(Above) '77, Foreigners again swept the 5,000m as Josh Kimeto defended his title. 1) Josh Kimeto (WSU) .............................13:38.14 |
1978 - NCAA DIVISION I @ Eugene, Oregon |
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Eugene, June 3, 1500 meters, Steve Scott (UCI) took the lead at 450m and never relinquished the lead. 1) Steve Scott (UCI) ................................3:37.6 |
| Flash forward one week to the AAU Championships |
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Westwood, June, 10, 1500 meters, Steve Scott joined Jim Ryun as to successfully defend an AAU 1500/Mile championship. 1) Steve Scott (UCI) ................................3:38.8 |
Henry Marsh (Punahoa, HS, Honolulu, Hawaii, class of 1972) A miler while in high school, Marsh became a steeplechaser at Brigham Young University. His progress was slow until 1976, when he had his first breakthrough in the event, finishing second at the NCAA championships, second at the Olympic Trials and 10th at the Olympic Games. The top steeplechaser in the U.S. during the 1980s. He never won an NCAA championship, 2nd in 1976 and 3rd in both 1977 and 1978, but he won the national 3,000-meter steeplechase championship ten years in a row, from 1978 through 1987. Marsh broke the American record four times in his career, with his most recent mark of 8:09.17 (August 28, 1985) lasted 21 years until Daniel Lincoln ran 8:08.82 at the Golden Gala in Rome on July 14, 2006. Marsh also ran a 3:59.31 mile. |
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| Back to Eugene. Thursday, June 1, Steeple Heats - 2:45 p.m. *Rono enters himself in the Steeple, the 5,000 & 10,000 meters. |
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Heat 1 - Rono qualifies with an 8:18.63 - (A New Meet Record). |
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| Thursday, June 1, - 5,000 Meters trials - 6:40 p.m. Heat # 1. |
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| 1) Joel Cheruiyot (WSU) ..13:47.55, 2) Rodolfo Gomez (UTEP) ..13:49.14, 3) Rudy Chapa (Oregon) ..13:52.80. |
Heat # 2 -Just over four hours later after a nap, shower and nearly an hour's warm up, Rono was back. |
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| (L) On the beginning of the second lap, Henry Rono (758, WSU) took over with a 61. |
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100 yards behind, but 50 yards ahead of the rest of the pack was Josh Kimeto (755, WSU). 2 time defending champion (76, 77), Kimeto did lead the first lap with a 65. |
Rono's powerful stride brought him past the mile in 4:08! Two in 8:33. Three-12:56!!! |
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| Last 4 laps: 4:18.2, last 2 laps: 2:02.9 & last lap: 58.3. Rono qualifies in 13:21.79 *New NCAA meet record & Hayward Field record!! |
| Friday, June 2, 10,000 meters - 6:05 p.m. *Rono does not show up for the final. |
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| 32 starters. The opening splits: 4:31(mile) and 9:07 (two miles) shook off 21 competitors. |
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| On the 12th lap, world record holder Samson Kimombwa fell. Teammate and countryman Joel Cheruiyot fell over him and was badley bruised. Kimombwa bounced up and continued, but Cheruiyot was through. |
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| The leaders pass 3M at 13:46.7 and 14:16.0 for 5,000. |
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| Cheruiyot is out. | Joseph Nzau (685, Wyoming) leads. | Pat Davey (Tennessee) and Joseph Nzau (Wyoming). |
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| Kimombwa surged on the 15th lap and led six runners in contention past 5M (23:05). |
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| American surprise, Pat Davey (830, Tennessee) gets ready to pass... | Davey (Tennessee) makes a run for home... | But at the bell it was World XC champion, John Treacy racing a 61.3 last lap, pulling away from Davey's 63.3, but Freshman Musyoki sprinted strongly off the last curve to complete a 60-flat! |
Results: 1) Mike Musyoki (UTEP, frosh) ........28:30.9 Link to video of 1978 NCAA distance races. |
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Saturday, June 3, 3:00 p.m. - Steeple Final - Hillary Tuwei (Richmond) took the early lead -66.0 for first lap. Rono was 8th at 67.6. Rono took the lead at the start of the third lap and increased throughout the race, 8:12.39! Three time winner, James Munyala (UTEP) is 2nd (8:24.0) Henry Marsh is 3rd-8:30.04. Rono withdraws from the 5,000m. (a sore foot -bruised three weeks earlier from his WR 8:05.4 steeple). |
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| Saturday, June 3, 4:45 p.m. - 5,000 meter run Final -minus Henry Rono... |
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| Josh Kimeto rips the first mile in 4:12! He would finish 4th |
The young soph didn't face Rono but in the field there were still 6 well-credentialed imports led by two-time winner Josh Kimeto (WSU). Chapa easily handled them all and he even waved in appreciation to the crowd 20 meters before the finish line. 1) Rudy Chapa (Oregon) .....13:35.3! (Link to distance races). |
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800 Meters 1) Peter Lemashon (UTEP) ...1:45.68. |
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