Latter-day Saint Kenneth Rooks advances to steeplechase world championship finals

The BYU standout was the only American to qualify for the final race in Budapest

20 Aug 2023, 4:39 p.m. MDT

Soufiane El Bakkali, of Morocco, right, Kenneth Rooks, of the United States and Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui, of Tunisia cross the line to finish a heat of the Men’s 3000-meters steeplechase during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Petr David Josek, AP

Latter-day Saint Kenneth Rooks’ running success continued Saturday, Aug. 19, as he advanced to the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the world track and field championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The 23-year-old from Brigham Young University qualified by finishing the second worlds preliminary even with the reigning world and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali, of Morocco, both with a time of 8:23.66.

Rooks is one of 15 runners who advanced to the final, which will be Wednesday, Aug. 23 (Budapest is eight hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time).

“I felt like I was in control, I feel like I had more left in me,” Rooks said in an interview after the race.

Osama Zoghlami, of Italy, center, races in a heat of the Men’s 3000-meters steeplechase during the World Athletics Championships. — Osama Zoghlami, of Italy, center, races in a heat of the Men’s 3000-meters steeplechase during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. | Petr David Josek, AP

Rooks gained national prominence after falling and coming back to win the 3,000-meter steeplechase crown at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 8.

Rooks also won an NCAA championship at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas, in June.

Rooks served a full-time mission in Uganda and Orem, Utah, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.