PARIS, France — Kenneth Rooks trailed in most of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final on Wednesday – which made his silver medal-earning finish all the more impressive to fans and himself.
With two laps to go, Rooks began to move up in the pack. Just as the runners entered their final lap, Rooks kicked it into high gear to lead the men’s steeplechase.
Rooks, the only American in the race, was passed late by Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali. Rooks was just .36 seconds behind El Bakkali in the end, with Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot taking the bronze medal.
Here’s five things to know about the 24-year-old Olympian from Washington:
1. Rooks is from Walla Walla
Nestled in the southeast corner of Washington, Walla Walla is home to approximately 34,000 people. Rooks attended College Place High School and graduated in 2018. He was the Washington 1A state champion in the 1,600-meter race and a two-time state champion in cross country.
On Wednesday, dozens of friends and supporters of Rooks' gathered at College Place High for an Olympic Games watch party to see him race.
2. He attended BYU
Rooks went on to Brigham Young University (BYU), majoring in civil engineering.
3. He won the national championship after falling in 2023
Rooks won the 2023 NCAA Division I national championship in the steeplechase and also won the USA Track and Field outdoor steeplechase national championship that same year. He secured BYU's fastest times ever in the steeplechase, indoor mile and distance medley relay.
4. Paris saw his personal best time
In Paris, Rooks finished the final with a time of 8:06.41, which is his personal best in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. His silver medal is the third-ever earned by an American man in the men’s steeplechase.
5. Rooks served in Africa and Utah
Off of the track, Rooks served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 2019-21 in Africa and Utah, according to his BYU athlete bio.
KING 5’s Alex Didion contributed to this report.
