http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYjaJDII65kPeter Rono was a 3:34 runner who at the time of this race competed in the NCAA's for Mount Saint Mary's. He never won an NCAA title.
The 1988 field was a little watered down. Rono in this final had one of the slowest PRs but with Cram injured, Scott getting old, Spivey not making the team, Coe and Ovett done, and Aouita only running the 800, it was a wide open race. Peter Elliot was probably the favorite in race day.
Kenya was claaning up in that Olympics. Medals in every distance race from 800 to Marathon with gold in 800, 1500, steeple, 5000.
Rono's last 400 to hold off the kickers is one of the bravest performances in the clutch at that level I have ever seen.