BYU's Kenneth Rooks took his competition by surprise in Paris.
Kenneth Rooks spent much of Wednesday’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the back. Then came a furious rally to make the podium.That barely registers as an effort compared to Rooks’ silver-medal heroics Wednesday night on the Olympic stage at Paris’ Stade de France., spent the first two-thirds of the 3,000-meter men’s steeplechase race at the back of the pack. He was so far from the leaders that even on a wide pan, the TV cameras couldn’t pick him up.
Kenneth Rooks, of the United States, clears an obstacle during the men's 3000 meters steeplechase final, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. “My goal was to conserve as much energy as possible and stay within striking distance,” Rooks said. “I was nervous, especially with where I positioned myself. But we were all in it, especially as the race got later.”
BYU track coach Ed Eyestone, left, celebrates a silver-medal performance with former Cougar Kenneth Rooks, who surprised many in Wednesday's steeplechase in Paris, France. The tall, lithe El Bakkali overtook Rooks on the final barrier. Yet Rooks, his face wrought with determination, fought off a challenge from Abraham in the closing meters to clinch the silver. He shaved 9 seconds off his personal-best time from May to finish in 8 minutes, 6.41 seconds. That time would have beaten El Bakkali for the gold in Tokyo, where he ran 8:08.9.
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