“I didn’t see that coming,” Cooper said.
Assistant coach Michael Walker was more surprised by the time frame in which she got to nationals.
“I could see it happening later on as a senior, so this is ahead of schedule from what I thought was possible,” Walker said.
Cooper previously played soccer, but did not enjoy it, so her mother suggested she try cross country. The new sport resonated with her.
Unfortunately, during junior and senior year of high school, fractures and shin problems prevented her from running.
Upon graduation, she chose to attend the College because her brother graduated from there, and if she wanted to continue to run, the cross country program was there, ready and waiting.
[…]