Tyrese Cooper and the MGX Gang Don't Disappoint at Golden South

Ka'Deem Wynn - 40 years of Golden South, 40 times to witness athletes drop insanely fast times. Yesterday did not disappoint at the Golden South Classic, held at the National Training Center in Clermont, FL.

With each year being historic in its own way, the Golden South Classic wowed fans yet again with it's DJ, meet gear --

Oh, and Tyrese Cooper and the MGX gang lighting up the track in the sprints.

MGX's Tyrese Coooper following his 200/400/4x400m outings at Golden South

Maybe a bit common now, Cooper handily won two individual events, running the 200 and 400 races and anchored a stellar 4x400 relay that finished in a state-leading 3:09.19, five seconds faster than the previous time of 3:14.22 run by Miami Northwestern. The MGX boys took down the previous meet record, which was set by American in 2014 (3:12.12. They really had to fight for it as the boys of E.O.T.O. Track Club, anchored by Brandon Cachon, who battled with Cooper earlier in the 400, went for it, but grabbed second in 3:09.31, also getting under the previous record.

Cooper says that he felt that he did good at the meet, though, believe it or not, the 400 wasn't his focus.

“I just tried to come into the race and win and PR in the 200,” Cooper said Sunday.

MGX coach, Darius LawShea, said on Sunday afternoon that he was extremely impressed with how Tyrese and all of his kids performed, especially in the relay.

“It was amazing, I was very pleased,” he said. “I've had those boys since they were seven or eight years old.”

Since coming together in 2006, LawShea and the MGX boys have never lost a 4x400 relay at Golden South, nor any relay in the various age groups at meets across the state as they got older (American in 2014 was largely comprised of MGX athletes).

“To start with those boys and end with those boys, with the exception of another guy, it was a great moment,” LawShea said.

Expecting to run at least 3:12 after a long day of competing, MGX clearly exceeded their, and maybe some of the spectators expectations.

Coming into the meet, MGX had been physically training hard since the track & field state meet three weeks ago, doing a lot of hill work, including doing drills up the hill as well as other exercises, really working on strength and stamina to be battle ready in the event that the competition comes down to the wire, his boys will be able to get the final word.

Speaking of the final word, LawShea says that this meet was sort of a statement to the rest of the state after the mishap that caused American High School the state title.

At the end of the day, the past is past, and now is the time to look towards the future, and surprisingly enough, it's one that doesn't involve Seattle.

Despite winning the 400 and receiving his Golden Ticket on-site, LawShea and Cooper are opting out of the Brooks PR Invite. Instead, Cooper will run at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico this weekend, then he's set to run at New Balance Nationals, and finally they'll look to end the season at the USATF National Junior Olympics, which will be held in Sacramento, California, this year.

In regards to running at the Great Southwest Classic, Cooper and LawShea are very optimistic. Cooper wants to run fast in both the 200 and 400, and LawShea believes that this is the meet where he can do it.

“We're going to run against two of the top Jamaicans, and the best kids in the United States,” LawShea said. “We're running against some 44s and 45s so we'll get the push that we want, and that time that we want.”

Team MGX at the conclusion of the 2016 Golden South

Right now, Cooper and the MGX gang are just enjoying life and having fun. However, soon enough, it'll be back to business; rest assured that something remarkable is going to happen with this young group of men.