Rick Peck
Special To McDonald County Press
The farther the distance, the better it is for Cole Cooper.
Cooper is not blessed with breakaway speed. Instead he relies on stamina to display his talents. The senior at McDonald County High School signed a letter of intent on May 5 to use that ability as a member of the cross country and track and field teams at Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Mo.
"It feels great to sign," Cooper said. "It's so amazing and I am so happy. I have been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Cooper said he will run cross country in the fall and then pole vault and run some distance races on the track team in the spring.
Cooper said he started running going into his seventh-grade year.
"My dad told me it was time to get into a fall sport," Cooper said. "There was football, soccer and cross country. I thought running sounded like fun."
Even after competing for two years in junior high and four years in high school, as well as training year round, Cooper said running is still fun.
"It is just so peaceful," Cooper said. "It is calm and relaxing. Cross country runners enjoy running just like basketball players enjoy playing basketball."
Cooper said he started pole vaulting as an eighth-grader.
"I love pole vaulting," he said. "I want to thank Cody Hobbs (MCHS pole vault coach) for all his help. Also, I appreciate all my other coaches, especially Darbi Stancell, Henri Whitehead and Rustan Crockett, and all my teammates these past four years."
Cooper said he was contacted by coach Andy Lemons about attending Hannibal-LaGrange.
"I coached at Monett for two years and so knew the area, so I reached out to a few of the kids from around here," Lemons said. "Cole is coming in with a good group of guys. If Cole works real hard this summer, he has a chance to be in the top seven. He will have to work hard, but I anticipate him being in the mix. If he makes the top seven, he will get to travel to our big meets and some big competitions."
Cooper was coached by Darbi and Bruce Stancell all four years at MCHS. Darbi Stancell said Cooper has made himself into a collegiate athlete by his hard work, not only during the season, but by running year round.
"Cole is fun to be around," Stancell said. "He cracks some of the dumbest jokes and keeps the mood light. He works as hard as you ask him and he deserves this opportunity. I believe he's going to a college that will be a good fit for him. He likes the longer distances and college is better suited for that. Also, academically, Hannibal-LaGrange is a fantastic school. I am excited to see him have the opportunity to get his college education."
Cooper said he plans to study nursing at Hannibal-LaGrange.
Sports on 05/12/2016