RONO, KIPROTICH NAMED NJCAA RUNNERS OF THE WEEK

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

For the third time in as many days, Hutchinson Community College cross country runners Mildred Rono and Titus Kiprotich received honors for their record-breaking performances on Saturday.

The Blue Dragon runners were both named the NJCAA Division I National Runners of the Week on Wednesday after both broke school records at the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri.

On Monday, the United States Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named Rono and Kiprotich as its national runners of the week at the NJCAA Division I level.

Then on Tuesday, the Blue Dragon duo earned Jayhawk Conference Runner of the Week honors.

Running the first 5K race of her collegiate career, Rono set a Blue Dragon women's 5K record in winning the Missouri Southern Stampede.

Rono, from Eldoret, Kenya, won her second race of the season, posting a winning time of 16:49.23. Rono won the race by 11.41 seconds. Rono also won the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic in August.

Rono broke the Blue Dragon women's cross country 5K record formerly held by Faith Jepchirchir of 16:55.33 set last season.

This is Rono's second NJCAA National Runner of the Week award this season.

Kiprotich finished second at the MSSU Stampede with a time of 23:30.40. The sophomore from Iten, Kenya broke his own team record, which he set in a ninth-place finish at the 2024 NJCAA National championships. It's the third time in his career, Kiprotich has owned Hutchinson's 8K cross country record.

Dating back to last year, this is the fourth-straight 8K race that the Blue Dragon men's record has fallen – held either by Kiprotich or teammate Dennis Cheruiyot.