Minor sets three meet records, Cooper secures a pair to also earn top athlete honors

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Just when it appeared Arria Minor couldn't take her sprinting prowess to another level after winning every 60-meter dash and 200 race she had entered in the past five weeks, the Denver East CO junior managed to do so by adding the 400 to her schedule Saturday at the ninth Great Southwest Indoor Classic.

Not one to be upstaged, Miami Norland FL junior Tyrese Cooper also took on the tough triple after opening indoors Jan. 20 by running the 300 and 500 at the Virginia Showcase.

Minor and Cooper both swept all three races, combining for five meet records, each earning most valuable athlete honors at Albuquerque Convention Center.

Minor, representing Denver Lightning, clocked 7.41 in the 60, 23.72 in the 200 and 53.80 in the 400 to secure meet records in all three events.  INTERVIEW

Cooper, competing for Miami Gardens XPress, ran 6.83 in the 60 and set meet records of 21.38 in the 200 and 47.55 in the 400.  INTERVIEW

Monarch CO sophomore Mia Manson won the girls pole vault with a clearance of 13-3 (4.04m), with Wellington TX senior Luke Williams capturing the boys pole vault by clearing 17-1 (5.21m).

Frisco TX junior Simone Watkins won the girls 60-meter hurdles in 8.70, with Bushland TX senior Cole Crossnoe edging Williams 8.101 to 8.108 in the boys 60 hurdles. Watkins also placed fourth in the 200 in 25.60.

Parker-Lutheran CO senior Maya Evans won the girls long jump with a leap of 19-3.75 (5.89m) and took second to Minor in the 60 in 7.66. Chandler AZ senior Jai Gruenwald prevailed in the girls triple jump with a leap of 38-2 (11.65m)

Cory Moore Jr. of Throwers Respect Field and Track Club, based in Nevada, doubled in the boys shot put and weight throw. Moore won the shot put with a mark of 49-11.25 (15.22m) and weight throw with an effort of 58-4.50 (17.79m).

Kenneth Talavera, competing for El Paso Youth, won the boys 800 in 1:54.12.