Kenneth Rooks elects to turn pro, signs endorsement deal with Nike Running...
In a social media post on Instagram, Walla Walla native Kenneth Rooks (Paul Merca photo), the double NCAA and USA steeplechase champion, announced that he's forgoing his final season of eligibility at Brigham Young University and signed a pro contract with Nike.
Rooks had a breakout season in 2023 after finishing sixth in the 2022 NCAA steeplechase, winning the NCAA title in Austin, Texas, then followed it up by winning the USA title.
Rooks won the USA title in dramatic fashion, after falling over a barrier near the 800 meter mark, then worked his way over the next four-plus laps to put himself in striking distance going into the final water barrier, before charging to take the win in a personal best 8:16.78.
At the world championships in Budapest, he won his semifinal race, running 8:23.66, beating eventual world champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, then finished tenth in the finals in a time of 8:20.02.
In an interview with Citius Mag's Chris Chavez, Rooks said, "I definitely was not expecting to have all the success that I had. At the beginning of the year, I remember setting goals and putting the goal down of competing and not putting a limit on myself. I'm going to get out there and put myself in a position to compete for the win in whatever race I'm in and just see what happens. It started out at Sound Running where I ended up winning (in 8:17.62 on May 6th against a pro field). I was not expecting to win that race going into it so that changed my mindset. I was like, ‘wow, I won that race. I could make it to the World Championships and could win the National Championship in college."
He finished his collegiate career at BYU with a 35th place finish at the NCAA cross country championships in November in Virginia, earning All-America honors, giving him four first-team All-America honors in his career.
The 2018 College Place HS graduate, who is currently ranked number 20 in the world in the steeple, will finish his degree in civil engineering at BYU, and will continue to train in Provo under Cougar coach Ed Eyestone, along with a pro group of BYU alums who include top marathoner Conner Mantz.
Rooks will be represented by Flynn Sports Management, who represents among others, Josh Kerr and Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts.
Terms of his agreement with Nike were not disclosed.
NOTE: The sports information office of Brigham Young University contributed to this report.
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