Steeplechase Stunner

The only American in the 2024 Olympic men’s steeplechase final, BYU grad Kenneth Rooks started at the back of the pack, bided his time, then went into “Marsh-mode,” passing every runner and leading most of the final lap. In the end Rooks finished second with a new personal-best time of 8:06.41. Rooks is now only the third American man to medal in the Olympic steeplechase since 1984. Watch the thrilling finish, then read more about Rooks and the other athletes representing their country—and BYU—in Paris.

Stride for Stride

Marathon runners and BYU alumni Conner Mantz and Clayton Young both qualified for places on the 2024 USA Olympic Team, but they've been running together for years as training partners at BYU and professionally. In this video Mantz and Young talk about the Olympics, their friendship, and their faith. Read more in Y Magazine. The pair will compete in the Olympic marathon early Saturday morning.

Last-Minute Upset

In the final seconds of the Olympic bronze-medal women’s rugby sevens match, former BYU basketball player Stephanie Rovetti secured possession for the United States, setting up a dramatic score as time expired. With the stunning 14–12 upset over Australia, Rovetti became the fourth BYU female athlete to medal in an Olympic Games. Read about or watch the dramatic finish.

Courtney’s Comeback

Before former BYU track star Courtney Wayment placed 12th in the Olympic 3000m steeplechase earlier this week, she sat down to discuss her path to Paris. Wayment qualified with a second-place finish at the US 2024 Olympic trials after missing qualifying by one spot in 2020. Another former Cougar, Whittni Orton Morgan—who placed 14th in the Olympic 5000m—also shared her story in a video.

A Cosmic Tribute

Janiradebaugh is a minor planet nestled in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. But Jani Radebaugh is a professor of geology at BYU. Radebaugh’s research in planetary exploration and involvement with NASA’s Dragonfly mission sent her name into orbit. In this episode of the Y Magazine podcast, Jani Radebaugh—the person, not the planet—chats about how we can be planetary explorers here on Earth. This episode is based on the article “The Little Planet.”

Serving the 1

Leading up to President Russell M. Nelson’s 100th birthday, the prophet has invited all of us to reach out to the one. Check out this BYU Speeches blog post about the 99+1 initiative for tips and resources. You can also find inspiring reminders on YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook.

AI Goes Nuclear

BYU chemical-engineering professor Matthew Memmott and his colleagues have figured out how to shave years off the complicated design and licensing processes for modern nuclear reactors: artificial intelligence. It may sound straight out of a sci-fi movie, but don’t worry, no one is giving AI the nuclear codes. Get all the details.

Cracking the Carb Code

BYU researchers have created the first national glycemic index (GI) database, revealing how common foods impact health and contribute to chronic diseases. Learn about the advantages of turning your pantry into a GI-friendly zone by adding things like whole grains, beans, brown rice, fruits, nuts, and non-starchy vegetables.

Southern Soul Food

While BYU grad Diana Turnbow admits that smoked meat is the centerpiece of Southern BBQ, she says, “I have always been more interested in the side dishes.” Although Southerners can be particular about cornbread, no one has complained about the old family recipe Turnbow’s mother clipped from a newspaper. And cornbread, of course, must be paired with collard greens. Get Turnbow’s recipes for both mouth-watering sides.

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