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After playing Smithers to Austin Joiner's Mr. Burns during his 8th grade and freshman seasons, Kyle Cooke seemed poised for a breakout sophomore campaign after posting promising times of 16:09 for 5K and 9:40 for 3200m as a freshman.
"I still consider Austin one of my greatest role models. I've been running with him since my 7th grade year, and I've been learning from him ever since. Him and Steven Hale were kind of like my big brothers on the team since the beginning."
Things went as expected with the start of Cooke's 05-06 campaign. He assumed the role of Holy Trinity's number 1 runner week in and week out. He PR'd at the Flrunners.com Invitational placing 4th in 15:42. All was well until a week before the state meet.
"I found out I had tibial tendonitis in my left leg and it just became worse and worse during the week leading up to state. I felt fine alright the day of the race, but I didn't run as well I should have. The Anderson brothers (Michael and Geoffrey) took the rac...