Distance Running Great Henry Rono Among Seven Going To Hall

Henry Rono, Washington State’s world-record breaking distance runner, returns to Spokane today where he won one of his seven NCAA championships.

Rono, now living in New Mexico, will be among seven inductees at the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame luncheon.

The day begins with induction ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. at the Hall of Fame in the Arena. A no-host reception at 11 a.m. followed by a noon luncheon is scheduled for the Ridpath Hotel.

All activities are open to the public.

Rono, a native of Kenya, won one of his three NCAA cross country titles in 1977 at Hangman Valley Golf Course. He also won four NCAA track titles and, in the most remarkable three-month stretch in distance running history, set four world records in 1978.

Hall of Fame inductees and their presenters:

Dwight Merkel, Spokane Youth Sports Association founder and director; presented by Kirby McKee.

Don Monson, basketball coach at University of Idaho, Cheney and Pasco high schools; presented by Dan Monson.

John Presley, Spokane football and basketball official; presented by Jack Higgins.

Lyle Pugh, Shadle Park High School gymnastics and wrestling coach; presented by Don Miller.

Dave Robertson, Gonzaga Prep and Shadle Park basketball coach; presented by Merle Derrick.

Henry Rono, Washington State distance runner; presented by Jaakko Tuominen.

William “Bill” Williams. University of Idaho football and boxing standout; presented by John Evans.

Scroll of Honor:

Les Patten, Spokane amateur tennis champion.

Charlie Van Sickel, sports writer Columbia Basin News, Tri-City Herald, Spokane Daily Chronicle and Spokesman-Review.

Playfair jockey injured

Jockey Wayne Freeman was in Deaconess Medical Center Tuesday after suffering a broken clavicle in Monday night’s sixth race at Playfair Race Course.

Freman was aboard Candie’s Hit, a 6-year-old gelding trained by his son, Scott Freeman, when the horse went over the rail.

The horse walked away from the incident with scrapes, Playfair CEO Don Johnson said.

“We now see the benefits of the new safety rail,” Johnson said. “The old rail would have broken that horse and possibly the rider in two.”

Playfair installed the rail prior to its winter meet last January.

The horse ducked out from under the veteran rider into the inside fence, Johnson said. “The fence supported the horse and then gave way under the weight, but it supported him enough, as the rail is designed to do. Wayne went over the other side.”

Freeman, 50, was resting “a little uncomfortably,” said a hospital spokesperson.

UI tickets

The University of Idaho is offering two-for-one ticket prices to several events this week.

Idaho volleyball plays seventh-ranked UC Santa Barbara Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Cal Poly Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The latter match was moved back to accommodate television for Idaho-Utah State football, which kicks off at 5 p.m. Tickets are two-for-one.

Whitworth ranked 13th in preseason

The Whitworth Pirates men’s basketball team is ranked 13th in the Associated Press NAIA Men’s Division II preseason Top 25 poll. , DataTimes