In a surprise development on the first day of the U.S. track and field championships, Kenneth Rooks, the three-time defending national champion and Olympic silver medalist, did not advance to the finals of the steeplechase at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York City.
Rooks finished 11th in his heat and 20th overall, with a time of 8:46.26.
Meanwhile, training partners James Corrigan and Dan Michalski both advanced to the finals. Michalski was fifth overall with a time of 8:24.89, and Corrigan, a 2024 Olympian, was 13th overall, at 8:32.20. Former Weber State athlete Peter Visser also failed to advance despite running a personal record of 8:35.09.
In other developments for local athletes on the first day of competition, Jaslyn Gardner, a former BYU athlete, and Paje Rasmussen, the BYU school record holder in the 100 and 200, both advanced to the finals of the 100-meter dash.
Carlee Hansen, who just completed her senior year at BYU and trains under BYU head coach Ed Eyestone, advanced to the finals of the 1,500-meter run by finishing sixth overall with a personal-record time of 4:04.54. Sadie Sargent, a former BYU athlete, failed to qualify.
On the men’s side, Carter Cutting, the BYU school record holder in the 1,500-meter run, advanced to the finals of the 1,500 by finishing with the day’s third-fastest time, 3:41.56.
