Kenneth Rooks Wins Silver in Paris Steeplechase

Former BYU athlete Kenneth Rooks captured the silver medal in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris with a personal best time of 8:06.41. Rooks, who was the 15th seed out of 16 finalists, surged from the back of the pack to take the lead in the final lap before being overtaken by Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali, who defended his Olympic title. Rooks' performance marks only the third time an American has medaled in this event. The journey of Rooks, who was scouted for the steeplechase at BYU and has previously won the NCAA championship, has been described as one of determination and resilience. Throughout the race, Rooks demonstrated remarkable athleticism by recovering from a fall and maintaining a strong finish. His achievement is celebrated as a significant milestone for American distance running.