Ht
5'
10"
Class
Junior
Hometown
Walla Walla,
Washington
Last School
College Place High School
Roster Years
2019 | 2022-2023
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
BYU Hall of Fame
Freshman Year
2019
Outdoor
- Named a second-team All-American after finishing 11th place in the 3000m steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (9:00.53)
- 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
- Qualified for regionals in the steeplechase with a time of 8:46.67 earned at the Stanford Invitational
- Competed in seven meets during the 2019 outdoor season
Sophmore Year
2022
Indoor
- 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.
- Named to MPSF All-Academic Team
- Competed in six meets, recording personal-bests in the mile and 800m.
Outdoor
- First Team All-American with a sixth-place finish in the men's steeplechase at nationals.
- Only a year removed from his full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Climbed to No. 2 all-time at BYU in the men's steeplechase with time of 8:22.56 in the NCAA Division I final on June 10.
- Finished the season ranked No. 6 in the men's steeplechase at 8:22.56.
- Competed in eight meets with three first-place finishes.
Junior Year
2023
Indoor
- Competed in six meets
- Earned First Team All-American honors as part of the DMR team's eighth-place, 9:39.45 finish at NCAA Indoor Nationals
- Member of the DMR squad that shattered a school-record with a 9:21.18 time at Notre Dame on Feb. 18
- Ran a 3:59.65 in the mile at the Razorback Invitational, good for No. 7 all-time at BYU
- Set a new personal-best in the 3000m, clocking a 7:55.44 time at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston
Outdoor
- Won the NCAA DI steeplechase national title with a run of 8:26.17 in Austin, Texas. He became the fourth BYU steeplechaser to win an individual championship and first BYU men's athlete to claim an individual track and field title since Clayton Young in 2019
- Became the then-fastest American collegiate athlete to run the steeplechase at 8:17.62 May 6 at the Sound Running Track Fest
- Named a Bowerman Semifinalist on June 21
- Named to Bowerman Watch List May 9
Senior Year
Graduate Year
Redshirt Year
Medical Redshirt Year