Kenneth Rooks wins season steeplechase debut at Sound Running Track Fest...
LOS ANGELES--Walla Walla native and Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks (Paul Merca photo) made his 2025 steeplechase debut with a victory in his signature event at the Sound Running Track Fest at Jack Kemp Stadium on the campus of Occidental College Saturday night.
Rooks was never pressed, as he cranked out consistent laps of 64 and 65 seconds before putting the hammer down on the penultimate lap with a 62.92 lap, before finishing with a 64.37 en route to a time of 8:14.25, the fastest time by an American so far this season.
The College Place HS and BYU grad already had the world championships standard of 8:15.00 in hand when he ran 8:06.41 at the Olympics last August, days after the qualifying period for this year's world championships in Tokyo opened.
Washington alum Ed Trippas of Australia was sixth in the race, running 8:27.58, while Parker Stokes of the Brooks Beasts was ninth in 8:52.58.
Valery Tobias of the Brooks Beasts set a personal best with her second place finish in the women's 800, running 1:59.49. Her previous best was set indoors at the USA championships, where she ran 1:59.55.
In a race won by 2022 world champion Jake Wightman of Great Britain in 3:35.26, Washington alum Sam Ellis finished second in the top section of the men's 1500, running 3:35.77, just off his personal best.
Training partner Sam Prakel was third in 3:36.03, while Washington alum Luke Houser was fourth in 3:36.16. Fellow UW alum Joe Waskom was sixth in 3:36.62.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS...
--In a separate section of the men's 3000 steeplechase, Washington alum Aaron Ahl of Canada won in 8:31.50.
Fellow Husky alum Mick Stanovsek of Australia was third in 8:34.42, while Julius Diehr was sixth in 8:43.41.
--John Rivera of the Brooks Beasts was fifth in the top section of the men's 800 in 1:45.85, with teammates Brannon Kidder sixth in 1:45.91, and Isaiah Harris seventh in 1:46.08;
--Former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell was fifth in the women's steeplechase in 9:24.95;
--Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts was eighth in the women's 5000 in 15:12.46. The men's 5000 saw Washington alum Kieran Lumb finish 13th in 13:20.46, while Dillon Maggard of the Brooks Beasts was 17th in 13:35.93.
USATF THROWS FESTIVAL...
In Tucson, Washington State alum Brock Eager finished tenth in the hammer throw at the USATF Throws Festival at Drachman Stadium Saturday.
The former Pac-12 hammer champion threw 235-8 (71.83m).
Tacoma native Lexi Ellis, who attended Curtis HS in University Place, finished sixth in the women's triple jump with a best of 41-4.5 (12.61m).
NOTE: Sound Running and USA Track & Field 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