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Former BYU runner Kenneth Rooks reacts crossing the finish line to win the silver medal in the men's 3000 meters steeplechase final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

Ashley Landis, AP Photo

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Soufiane El Bakkali, of Morocco, right, former BYU runner Kenneth Rooks and Abraham Kibiwot, of Kenya, competes in the men's 3000-meters steeplechase final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

Natacha Pisarenko, AP Photo

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Former BYU runner Kenneth Rooks poses with the American flag after winning the silver medal in the men's 3000 meters steeplechase final, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

Ashley Landis, AP Photo

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PARIS — Former BYU track and field alum Kenneth Rooks was a long shot competing in the 3000-meter steeplechase final at the 2024 Paris Olympics Wednesday night. To win, he would have to run a perfect race.

He almost did.

Rooks, who was in last place early in the race, stunned the capacity crowd at Stade de France by taking the lead on the bell lap. Defending Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morroco managed to move to the front down the stretch and Rooks held off Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot with a final kick to claim the silver medal.

Rooks becomes the third American male to medal in the event since 1984 and seventh all-time. With his 8:06.41 finish, Rooks ran the seventh fastest time in the event in Olympic history.

“The goal was to get out and stay relaxed,” Rooks said. “If the race went out fast, I was going to be okay being toward the back. I just wanted to conserve as much energy as possible, but stay within striking distance. I was nervous, especially with where I had positioned myself, but we all were really in it as we got later in the race. I just got up in position to make that move at the end.”

El Bakkali won the gold in a time of 8:06.05 and Kibiwot was third at 8:06.47.

With his performance in Paris, Rooks became the ninth all-time BYU track and field medalist. He became the first athlete from the BYU track and field program to medal at the Olympic Games. He is just the third BYU men’s track and field athlete to medal for Team USA. He joins Ralph Mann (1972 Munich Olympic Games 400m silver medalist) and Alma Richards (1912 Stockholm Olympic Games high jump gold medalist) in that category.

The distance runner from Walla Walla, Washington, began the race in the back of the field. Calculating his moves, Rooks sped up to maintain close position to 2021 Olympic gold medalist Soufiane El Bakkali in the middle of the pack with two laps remaining. Rooks made his move with a surge at the final lap to lead the field in first. El Bakkali caught the BYU alum inside the last 50m to take gold, while Rooks crossed in second in 8:06.41 besting his previous personal best by nearly nine seconds.

Rooks is the first medalist coached under BYU director of track and field and two time Olympian Ed Eyestone. Rooks has since continued his training under Eyestone since turning professional and joins fellow Cougar alums Conner Mantz and Clayton Young who also are trained by the BYU coach. Mantz and Young will represent the United States in the men’s marathon in Paris Saturday.

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