Kenneth Rooks
Distance
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