Background
Rock was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and grew up in Stratford, Wisconsin, where he graduated from high school in 2000.
Rock was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and grew up in Stratford, Wisconsin, where he graduated from high school in 2000.
Despite this success, he was not a heavily recruited athlete. After finishing runner-up seven times between the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Rock hit his stride in 2003 and 2004, winning eight consecutive titles in the 400 m dash and 4x400m relay. Rock holds nine UW–LaCrosse records (four individual.
Five relays) and six WIAC records (three individual.
Three relays) and was twice named first-team Academic All-American by CoSIDA. Rock turned professional soon after graduating from UW–Louisiana Crosse with a finance degree by signing a multi-year contract with Adidas. Rock is currently head Track and Field coach at Bethel University.
Despite going through the rigors of the long National Collegiate Athletic Association college track season, Rock finished 6th in the 400 m at the 2004 Olympic Trials, earning him a spot in the relay pool for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. In the 2004 Olympic Games, Rock ran for the American 4x400m relay team in the qualifying heats, securing the team a place in the final.
The relay took first two days later in the final, securing Rock a gold medal.
Later in the meet, he led off the 4x400m relay team to yet another World Championship gold medal. Coaches at Bethel University. 2004: Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist, ranked #7 in the United States
2005: World Outdoor 400m silver medalist, World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist, ranked #2 in the United States and #3 in the World
2007: ranked #7 in the United States.