Professional Highlights
- Olympic silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the 3000-meter steeplechase (8:06.41)
- First at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the steeplechase (8:21.92)
Kenneth Rooks adds yet another piece of hardware to Team USA’s collection. 🥈🇺🇸 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/jsc3aYBfVV
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024
BYU Highlights
- 2023 NCAA DI steeplechase national champion (8:26.17)
- Four-time All-American (three outdoor, one indoor), including three First-Team honors
- Holds three BYU top-10 records: No. 1 in the steeplechase (8:17.62), No. 1 as part of BYU's DMR squad (9:21.18) and No. 7 in the indoor mile (3:59.65)
- In the 2022 indoor season, he combined with Brandon Garnica, Cortez Ruiz and Joey Nokes to win the 2022 MPSF Men's Distance Medley Relay Championship with a time of 9:48.28. He was also named to the MPSF All-Academic Team
- As a freshman in 2019, Rooks ran a career-best 8:36.08 to take second in the steeplechase at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds to advance to Nationals - Sixth-fastest steeplechase time in school history
Personal
- Parents are Ron & Judy Rooks
- Major: Civil Engineering
- Missionary Service: Served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kampala, Uganda & Orem, Utah (2019-21)
- An only child
- Enjoys basketball, the outdoors and was a member of his high school's choir
Before BYU
- Two-time WIAA cross country state champion (2015, 2017)
- 2017 WIAA 1A state champion in the 1600m
- Broke the WIAA 1A state record in the 800m (1:53.56)
- Valedictorian of his graduating class
- H.S. Personal Bests: 1:53.56 (800m), 4:11.40 (mile), 9:20.86 (3200m)
Indoor Personal Bests |
||
|---|---|---|
Time |
Event |
Meet |
3:59.65 (No. 7 all-time at BYU) |
Mile |
2023 Razorback Invitational |
1:51.76 |
800m |
2022 BYU Indoor II |
7:55.44 |
3000m |
2023 David Hemery Valentine Invitational (Boston) |
Outdoor Personal Bests |
||
|---|---|---|
Time |
Event |
Meet |
8:17.62 (No. 1 all-time at BYU) |
3000S |
2023 Sound Running Track Fest |
1:50.90 |
800m |
2019 BYU Robison Invitational |
1500m |
3:44.44 |
2019 Bryan Clay Invitational |
Career Stats
Men's Cross Country Athlete Profile