Missouri State's Jonathan Rono has been named the first Missouri Valley Conference men's track athlete of the week for the 2006 outdoor season, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.

Rono, a sophomore distance runner, earned two top-five finishes at Saturday’s Tulsa Duels, in Tulsa, Okla. The Kenyan native finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:52.23, placing him at the top of the Valley best list. In the 1,500-meter run, Rono finished fourth in 3:55.29, recording another top time in the Valley.

The Missouri State track and field teams travel to Starkville, Miss., on Saturday, April 1, to compete at the Mississippi State Bulldog Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.