Walla Walla native Kenneth Rooks tunes up for Olympics, wins his section of the 1500m in LA...
LOS ANGELES--Though he ran in the B section, Walla Walla Olympian Kenneth Rooks (Paul Merca photo) dropped down in distance from the steeplechase to win his heat of the men's 1500, and in the process, came away with a new personal best Saturday night at the Sound Running Sunset Tour at Jack Kemp Stadium on the campus of Occidental College.
The two time national champion in the steeple, trying to get some work in before heading to Paris for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, then a final training block in Switzerland, before returning to Paris for the first round of the steeple on August 5th, won the section in a time of 3:39.55.
He eclipsed his previous personal best of 3:44.44 set at the 2019 Bryan Clay Invitational while he was a collegian at Brigham Young University.
Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts, who finished sixth in the 5000 at the US Olympic Trials, was second in the women's 5000, running 15:12.55, as Katelyn Touhy won in 15:07.12.
In the top section of the men's 1500, Henry Wynne of the Brooks Beasts was fourth in 3:33.53, as Justin Kipkoech took the win in 3:32.93.
Washington State alum Paul Ryan was eighth in 3:36.56.
Parker Stokes of the Brooks Beasts was fifth in the 3000 steeplechase, running 8:31.22, with Isaac Updike the winner in 8:19.11.
Brannon Kidder and Isaiah Harris of the Beasts finished fifth and seventh in the top section of the men's 800, running 1:45.62, and 1:45.92, respectively. Jonah Koech was the winner in 1:44.47.
Former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell won the B section of the women's 1500 in 4:10.50. In the A section, Teagan Schein-Becker of the Brooks Beasts was eighth in 4:08.10.
Valery Tobias of the Brooks Beasts was third in the B section of the women's 800 in 2:02.68.
NOTE: Sound Running contributed to this report.
paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links. You can also support the site by clicking the yellow "Buy Me A Coffee" link below.
Comments