Student-Athlete of the Month
The “We are Hofstra…We are Leaders” program recognizes the all-around success of select Hofstra University student-athletes. The key criteria includes excellence in academics, leadership and dedication in athletics, a commitment to community service, and the extent to which they serve as a role model for their peers.
Daniel Rono a member of the Men's Cross Country team from Eldoret, Kenya has continued the leadership position on his team this year. Rono, a junior, placed 71st to lead the Hofstra Men's Cross Country team to a 26th place finish at the 2011 NCAA Division I Northeast Regional Cross Country Championship on the Audubon Golf Course. Rono clocked a time of 32:59 on the 10K course to earn the Pride 70 points in the meet. It was the fifth time this season that Rono has led the Pride. His time is also the eighth-best 10K time in school history. Even with these recognitions under his belt, Daniel said his most memorable athletic achievement(s) would be “basically every race is a memorable but the ones that stand out are; 2009 Hofstra Invitational, 2010 CAA Conference Championship and the 2010 Metropolitan Championships. The Hofstra Invitational was my first collegiate race and wining it was everything to me. The others are the 2010 CAA conference championships where I broke the school record, and 2010 Metropolitan Championships where I ran without warming up and still did well to earn the metropolitan honors.”
QUESTION: Why did you choose to attend Hofstra University?
DANIEL RONO: Hofstra has a great business program, it has fantastic facilities, and it allowed me to stay close to the city.
Q: How did you make your decision on what major to choose?
DANIEL: I came to U.S. with the ambition of studying Computer Science or Law, but my brother and a friend who were on the plane with me advised that I change to Business or Health related majors. I chose Accounting because of its marketability and partly because my brother advocated for it.
Q: What has it meant to be a member of the Hofstra Men's Cross Country team and to play for coach Pete Alfano?
DANIEL: Being a Hofstra student-athlete has been a great honor. I always consider myself very lucky to have been recruited by coach Pete Alfano.
Q: Have you been able to meet any influential people while here at Hofstra? If so, who and why are they influential in your life?
DANIEL: Most of those I have met are unique and have been really nice to me. The most influential ones are: Coach Alfano for his terrific coaching skills, my teammate Fredie has been extremely nice and generous to me since I came; I have no way of thanking him. Finally Anne and Elizabeth both who work at Axinn Library have been exceptionally nice and helpful to me, as they treat me like one of their sons!
Q: What is your definition of a leader?
DANIEL: A leader is a person who can take responsibility for whomever he/she is leading, as well as a person who can carry his/her teammates on his/her shoulders, and selflessly sacrifice for others.
Q: What kinds of aspirations do you have for competing at the next level, if any?
DANIEL: I hope to continue running past the college level and even to compete in marathons, especially New York Marathon.
Q: What does it take to be a successful student while competing as a Division I student-athlete?
DANIEL: It requires high levels of commitments, dedication, and time management. You must love whatever you are doing.
Q: What piece of advice do you have for incoming student-athletes?
DANIEL: Take all the opportunities granted to you and maximize them. Develop a very strong positive attitude towards your school, teammates, coaches, professors and school facilities.
Q: What are your interests outside of your sport?
DANIEL: I like watching sports, especially European soccer. I am developing interests in basketball and football too; the N.Y Jets is my favorite team.
Q: How has community service involvement positively impacted your development as an individual?
DANIEL: It has changed how I perceive the people around, I got to know different personalities of different people that I would have otherwise not known. I get a chance to feel that I have done service to the community.
Q: What has surprised you about Hofstra since arriving on campus?
DANIEL: The size of the school and the facilities, the fact that the school runs 24 hours. You would wake up in the dead of the night and see students almost everywhere. Hofstra is a non sleeping school. Finally the endless activities going on on-campus all year round.
