Tyrese Cooper is known around track circles as "Smoke."
The sophomore has made a name for himself dating back to his middle school days when he swept the 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints as a 7th and 8th grader at the FLYRA Middle School State Championship.
His times of 10.61, 21.26, and 47.76 seconds were something of lore while wearing the blue and gold of MGX -- and his signature head band was his defining memento.
But with success came the doubters.
And Cooper's coach, Darius Lawshea, says he and Cooper don't understand it.
"Everything they said he wasn't going to do once he got to high school he did, and even more," Lawshea said. " He doesn't like it at all and he says 'Watch Coach D, I'm going to show them all once again.' I get excited because I know what's about to happen."
What happened was more of the same.
Cooper set freshman national records indoors in the 60m, 200m and 400m and then concluded it with an outdoor campaign that saw him duplicate national records in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
Like a thoroughbred horse, he trekked out to the starting line week after week, meet after meet, defeating the competition, and challenging his biggest rival: the clock. He scored 28 points at the state meet as an individual -- he was runner-up in the 100 -- and anchored the American High School relay team that was ultimately disqualified.
Cooper almost won a team state championship single-handedly.
His season bests of 10.36, 20.46 and 45.23 seconds in the 100, 200 and 400 earned him numerous meet records and ultimately landed him a spot on Track & Field News All-American list in all three events -- the only runner to do that previously was University of Southern California incoming freshman Michael Norman.
With the track season finishing at the end of the summer, Lawshea describes it as simply amazing.
"We accomplished more goals than we set," he said.
But the pair didn't just settle for their recent successes.
Four months later it was back to the grind and back to the physical fitness program that made Cooper the sprinter he is today.
Here's the secret: Cooper doesn't use weights. Much of his training uses only his body weight.
He follows the MGX team mindset of training to be great by using mind, body, and soul. Lawshea describes the saying as a way to get inside the young phenom's head to make him believe he can do anything.
"I make him believe that if you work harder then everyone else and all things will come fairly easy," Lawshea said. " We train to be great in all things. That is our motto. I make sure Tyrese body is in the best shape of his life from his toes to his shoulders with physical fitness."
Cooper describes his favorite workout as a TC3 pushup because it shows the world just how strong he really is. When asked how his recent training had been, Cooper wasn't shy, simply saying "very hard."
"Coach told me we can't train like last year because we have new goals," Cooper said. "He pushes me to the limit in the drills. He believes that I have to be in physical fitness shape. He loves challenging me to be great. He is always making up new drills for me to push me to be great."
This weekend "Smoke" will make his sophomore indoor debut at the VA Showcase in Lynchburg, Virginia.
He will compete in the 55m dash in a field that boasts a total of five guys with personal bests under 6.40s. That includes St. John's College (DC) senior Eric Harrison, who has a seed time of 6.28.
The 300m dash is expected to be the most exciting, with US#1 Eric Allen Jr. of Bullis School (Md.) and US#1 returner Micaiah Harris of Western Branch (Va). There is no doubt the national record of 33.05 seconds could fall, at a distance that falls in between Cooper's two favorite events: the 200m and 400m.
Lawshea says fans can expect to see a show.
"They asked us to come to this meet and we accepted the challenge," he said. "He really doesn't care about who he races because he has run against the best so he is battle tested for anybody. We plan to drop it hard on everyone. We want to go under 33 seconds, just how low after that? I guess you will have to find out."
The duo's goals aren't just to rewrite all the sophomore records, but to aim higher.
Senior and world records are even in the picture, they say, whichever comes first.
Lining up to congratulate Cooper when he accomplishes those feats won't just be Lawshea, but a host of MGX youngsters and other little kids who adore and idolize him.
Lawshea says the talented sprinter wants to give kids in Miami Gardens someone they can relate to -- and not just on television.
"The MGX kids love him and kids all over the world love him because he always take time out and take pictures with all kids and adults," Lawshea said. "He loves giving back."
Cooper echoes those sentiments.
"Yes, I love all kids and especially the MGX kids," he said. "Coach always says to make sure I practice hard because they are always watching me and trying to be like me."
The VA Showcase won't be Cooper's last stint on the indoor circuit.
He has plans to compete at the Millrose games in New York before kicking off his outdoor season and then a return trip to the Armory where he will compete in New Balance Nationals.
Cooper says he plans to dedicate the new year to a late friend, Trinity Gay, the daughter of Olympian Tyson Gay who was shot and killed by a stray bullet in Lexington, Kentucky in October.
"I am dedicating this season to her and hope to be great in all things," Cooper said. "I just want to be the best that Tyrese Cooper can be."
