University of South Alabama Athletics

10/19/05– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RONO NAMED SUN BELT CONFERENCE RUNNER OF THE WEEK FOR THE FOURTH TIME
CONTACT: Dwayne Gatlin

NEW ORLEANS – For the third time in as many weeks and fourth time this season, South Alabama junior cross country runner Vincent Rono was named Sun Belt Conference Runner of the Week by league officials Wednesday. Rono was also honored with the award for the weeks of Sept 20., Oct 3. and Oct 10.

Rono placed fifth at the Chile Pepper Invitational 10K in a time of 28:43.5. He was just one second from going under the course record of Jaguar great, the late David Kimani, in his first ever 10K race.

No other cross country runner in South Alabama's history has been named Runner of the Week as many times as Rono has this season. 2004 All-American and current Jaguar Tonny Okello won the award twice last season. Kimani, South Alabama's only NCAA cross country champion was named Runner of the Week twice during his undefeated 1999 campaign.

On Saturaday, Oct 22, the men’s and women’s cross country teams travel to Troy University for the Annual Coach "O" Invitational. The men will compete at the 5K distance while the women will run a 2-mile race. The meet begins at 10 a.m.