Walla Walla's Kenneth Rooks wins second straight US national title in steeple at Olympic Trials...
EUGENE--Walla Walla native Kenneth Rooks (Paul Merca photo) stayed out of trouble, then asserted himself over the final kilometer to win his second straight US national title and earn a spot on Team USA to the Olympics in Paris Sunday at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus to highlight day 3 of the US Olympic Track & Field Trials.
After a first kilometer, run at 3 minutes, which removed no one from contention, a group which included Matthew Wilkinson and Benard Keter slowly ratcheted up the pace, hitting two kilometers at 5:47.79.
Meanwhile, Rooks worked his way into third after staying out of traffic. He then put the hammer down on the backstretch with less than three laps to go, running laps of 62.53, 59.79, and 61.15 to secure the victory in a time of 8:21.92.
Wilkinson finished second in 8:23.00, while BYU's James Corrigan, who trains with Rooks in Provo, was third in 8:26.78.
Rooks is a safe bet to make the trip to Paris, despite the fact that he doesn't hold the Olympic qualifying standard of 8:15.00. He's ranked number 23 in the Road to Paris rankings.
In the mixed zone, Rooks told reporters, "We were looking to see what moves people were going to make. I feel like I have a really good close."
"Matthew started to push the pace a bit, and I threw down the hammer with two laps to go. That was based on feel."
He said that he will sit down with BYU coach Ed Eyestone and agent Ray Flynn to figure out what meets he will run before the Olympics.
Courtesy of NBC Sports, here's video of the race (may be geoblocked outside the USA):
While Rooks was racing, another Walla Walla native, Dash Sirmon, who competes for the University of Nebraska, finished fourth with a throw of 252-0 (76.83m), as Curtis Thompson won with a best of 272-5 (83.04m).
He said that the biggest takeaway from his fourth place finish, which was his first competition at the senior level, was "the experience and opportunity. Being in a stadium like Hayward with the amount of fans is certainly a lot different than your home town meet."
Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts advanced to the finals of tomorrow's women's 800 meters, as the reigning national champion ran 2:00.87 to finish second in heat 3 behind Allie Wilson, who ran 2:00.29.
In the previous heat, Valery Tobias of the Beasts finished eighth in 2:04.33.
Washington athletes will be in force Monday, with Akins in the 800 the final race of the night at 7:32 pm.
Washington's Nathan Green and recent grad Joe Waskom, who have collectively won the last three NCAA 1500 meter titles, go in the finals of that event at 5:47 pm, along with Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts.
Emerald Ridge High's JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, who is one of nine high school athletes in the Trials, jumps in the finals of the women's high jump starting at 5:15 pm.
Allie Buchalski from the Brooks Beasts, along with Lake Stevens HS and Oklahoma State grad Taylor Roe run in the finals of the women's 5000 at 7:09 pm.
The lone athlete from Eastern Washington University, Eagle grad Parker Bowden, runs in the first round of the men's 110 hurdles at 5:05 pm, in hopes of advancing to the semifinals on Thursday.
Finally, Woodinville native Olivia Markezich, former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell, Pasco's Marisa Howard, Spokane's Katie Thronsen, Seattle resident Allie Ostrander, and Kayley DeLay of the Brooks Beasts all are in action at 6 pm in the semifinals of the women's 3000 steeplechase.
In finals contested Sunday, Annette Echikunwoke won the women's hammer with a throw of 245-0 (74.68m); Sam Kendricks won the mens pole vault at 19-5 (5.92m); Kendall Ellis, formerly of USC, won the women's 400 in a personal best 49.46; and in the eagerly anticipated men's 100 meters, Noah Lyles took care of the field, winning in 9.83, tying his personal best.
NOTE: USA Track & Field contributed to this report.
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