Sprint Standouts Cooper, Walton Named To T&F All American Teams

Isabel Hanewicz

(Photo by Cedric Gillette)

American's Tyrese Cooper and Miramar's Jamal Walton may be higher schoolers, but both are making waves on the national stage.

The two sprint standouts were named to the Track and Field All American teams, Cooper for the 100m, 200m, 400m- one of only two athletes on the list for three events (Michael Norman, who now attends the University of Southern California, was also named for the same three events) - and Walton for the 400m. We talked to both athletes about receiving the recognition, their 2016 seasons and their plans for the the future.

In 2016, Tyrese Cooper won the 100m, 200m and 400m dash in the AAU Junior Olympics, as well as winning the 200m and 400m at the 4A state meet and taking runner up in the 100m. Now a sophomore, Cooper has been competing since sixth grade and holds two New Balance National titles in addition to PRs of 10.36 in the 100m, 20.46 in the 200m and 45.23 in the 400m.

"It's a great feeling to be named All-American in three events. It seems that I'm accomplishing all my goals I set out to do in high school," Cooper said. "People said it couldn't be done after I won the middle school state championship in the 7th and 8th grade. My training is very  hard and "Coach D" doesn't [expect]  me just being good, he demands greatness each day that I train."




Cooper hopes to keep cutting down his times in the 2017 season, a goal he knows will only come through harder training.

"I want to run 44 low in the 400, 19 high or 20 low in the 200, and 9.97 or 10 flat in the 100. I want to continue to "wow" the fans. I feed off of them and I love the support they give me especially the little kids because they look up to me," he said. "I am thanking God for all things and will dedicate this season to Trinity Gay."

For junior Jamal Walton, the 2016 was also a season of success: 3rd in the 200m at AAU Nationals, 5th in the 400m semis at the IAAF World U20 Championships and second in the event at New Balance Outdoor Nationals and the 4A state track meet.

"First off by saying is that I am bless of a God given talent I want to thank my coaches and my fans for believing in me by achieving this award," Walton said. "To be [an] All American means a lot [be]cause there are so many great talents around the U.S."



Although he's struggled with hamstring issues in the past, Walton is looking for the upcoming season to be injury-free as he continues to get back into top shape. His current 400m PR of 45.99, was set as a freshman at the IAAF World Youth Championships, and he hopes to surpass that in 2017.

"My main goal for 2017 is to run a 44 [and] I'm sure that I will be running that time when track season starts," he said. "I had deal with hamstring problems past 3 years ago but now it's going well I'm getting my legs stronger and better so just want everyone to know JAMAL WALTON IS BACK."

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