Region 6 individual champion Mildred Rono was named the NJCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country National Runner Of The Week on Wednesday.

The Hutchinson Community College freshman was running in a tightly-knit lead pack of five runners through three kilometers at the 2025 Region 6 Women’s Championship last Saturday in Colby.  With two kilometers to go, Rono broke away from the pack and was never challenged again.

Roni posted a time of 17:10.69, winning the race by 45.80 seconds.

Rono's time was the second-fastest Region 6 time in Blue Dragon history. Rono won the third race of her freshman season.

This was the third time this season Rono was awarded NJCAA national weekly honors. She is the only Blue Dragons to win three national weekly honors in one season.

Rono and the Blue Dragons run in the 2025 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on November 8 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761360851161.jpeg" alt="Mildred Rono won the Region 6 individual championship and led the No. 11 Blue Dragon women to a Region 6 team title on Friday in Colby. (Photo courtesy Michael Smith)" />
 <figcaption>Mildred Rono won the Region 6 individual championship and led the No. 11 Blue Dragon women to a Region 6 team title on Friday in Colby. (Photo courtesy Michael Smith)</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATIONRegion 6 individual champion Mildred Rono was named the NJCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country National Runner Of The Week on Wednesday.The Hutchinson Community College freshman was running in a tightly-knit lead pack of five runners through three kilometers at the 2025 Region 6 Women’s Championship last Saturday in Colby. With two kilometers to go, Rono broke away from the pack and was never challenged again.Roni posted a time of 17:10.69, winning the race by 45.80 seconds.Rono's time was the second-fastest Region 6 time in Blue Dragon history. Rono won the third race of her freshman season.This was the third time this season Rono was awarded NJCAA national weekly honors. She is the only Blue Dragons to win three national weekly honors in one season.Rono and the Blue Dragons run in the 2025 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on November 8 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

👟 Rono claims third NJCAA National Runner of the Week award