NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan long-distance runner Henry Rono, who broke four world records in the span of 81 days in 1978, died on Thursday at the age of 72, Athletics Kenya said.

Between April and June of 1978, Rono, a student at Washington State University in the United States and relatively unknown on the international stage, set world records in the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 metres and the 3,000 metre steeplechase.