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Tyrese Cooper Only Getting Better As A Sophomore

Published by
DyeStat.com   Jan 20th 2017, 8:07pm
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Tyrese Cooper raising his game yet again

By Ka’Deem Wynn for DyeStat

Tyrese Cooper claimed 20 records in 2016, 11 of which were national, ranging from the 60-meter dash to the 400.

With a new year, Cooper felt the need to keep the momentum going and did so Jan. 14 when he ran a national high school indoor record 33.03 seconds in the 300 meters and a US No. 2 all-time of 1:01.88 in the indoor 500 at the VA Showcase.

In his first time running either event, Cooper opened his 2017 season by breaking the 300 world youth record, and narrowly missed the national high school record in the 500 by 0.20, which featured a close battle involving himself and Florida signee Chantz Sawyers, who ran 1:02.29.

During the 300, Cooper began a premature celebration, which caused him to break his stride and slightly slow down. Miami Gardens Xpress coach Darius LawShea said that if he hadn’t done that, Cooper could have easily run under 33 seconds.

His next chance to break the record will come on Feb. 4 at the Armory Track Invitational in New York City.

The VA Showcase was the place to open the season strong and show that Cooper isn't the same athlete that he was a year ago.

Cooper was on top of the world as a freshman. He was a Florida state champion for both the 200 and 400, runner-up in the 100 and anchoring American High’s 4x400m relay to a thrilling finish  ─ scoring 28 points alone ─ and he was breaking records left and right.

Since October, Cooper has been training intensely, focusing on strength and overall physical fitness, working with just body weight, while refocusing on MGX’s signature phrase of mind, body, and soul.

With his knee giving him some trouble, it was decided they would lay off for a bit, and then come back strong. During this time, no running was implemented in the training plan.

It wasn’t until around December and early January that training resumed, including running. Figure-eight drills on grass, a workout done in the past, was common training for speed endurance.

“I’ve gained 10 pounds, and my diet has changed,” Cooper said.

This year’s season will also see a new Cooper in a different high school uniform, as he’s transferred from American High School to Miami Norland.

“We initially went to American because we wanted him to have a better education and they offered me a (coaching) position,” LawShea said. “But with me being a coach, there was just a lot of politics and it wasn’t a right fit.”

Miami Norland is closer to where Cooper lives and the community he grew up around, an area that has truly embraced him over the years, even before he was a household name in high school track and field. He’s now doing better in school, he’s interacting with diverse groups of people, and he’s beginning to mature and be more disciplined.

Cooper aspires to be the greatest high school sprinter of all-time. He wants to be an example to other kids who look to be part of the next great generation of track athletes and he wants to use his running as a tool to show that it is indeed possible. He wants to give those in his community someone they can relate to, rather than seeing a celebrity on television.

According to his LawShea, Cooper is in the best shape of his young life. He says Cooper is currently in shape to run 45 seconds in the 400 and 20.2-20.3 indoors, despite indoors not being his main goal for the year.

Last year, Cooper was chasing the world 15-16 age-group record of 45.27 belonging to Christopher Taylor in the outdoor 400, and he accomplished that feat Aug. 6 by clocking 45.23 at the AAU National Junior Olympics in Texas.

Despite the success, LawShea says that he and Cooper have been facing a lot of negativity toward their optimistic outlook on this season, with many critics claiming Cooper can’t replicate the kind of year he had in 2016, that this year won’t be as great.

Using the criticism to fuel his motivation and drive, Cooper remains focused on the 1982 national high school outdoor 400 record of 44.69, set by Darrell Robinson of Tacoma Wilson, WA.

Robinson remains the only high school runner to crack the 45-second barrier. Cooper not only aims to be the second one, he looks to be the number one guy at the top of the list. 

He’s already taken down one national high school record this season. Expect the record watch to continue every time Cooper gets in the starting blocks this year.



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1 comment(s)
HarshaSankar
The main thing Cooper should focus on is a long term career! He should try to avoid physical or mental burnout!
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