Hutchinson Cross Country Duo Sweeps National Weekly Honors for Third Consecutive Day
Information obtained from HCC officials

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College cross country runners Mildred Rono and Titus Kiprotich received their third set of weekly honors in as many days Wednesday after record-breaking performances at the Missouri Southern Stampede.
The Blue Dragon duo was named NJCAA Division I National Runners of the Week on Wednesday, following recognition from the United States Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association on Monday and Jayhawk Conference Runner of the Week honors on Tuesday.

Rono, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, set a school women's 5K record in her first collegiate 5K race, winning the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri, with a time of 16:49.23. She won by 11.41 seconds and broke the previous Blue Dragon record of 16:55.33 set by Faith Jepchirchir last season.
The victory marked Rono's second race win this season after capturing the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic in August. This is her second NJCAA National Runner of the Week award this season.

Kiprotich, a sophomore from Iten, Kenya, finished second at the Missouri Southern Stampede with a time of 23:30.40, breaking his own school 8K record. The previous record was set during his ninth-place finish at the 2024 NJCAA National Championships.
This marks the third time Kiprotich has owned Hutchinson's 8K cross country record. Dating back to last year, the Blue Dragon men's record has fallen in four consecutive 8K races, held by either Kiprotich or teammate Dennis Cheruiyot.