Dropping Soccer Equals Huge Drop In Time For Renne Cooper

Renne Cooper (pronounced Wren) has risen up the ranks of Texas distance running.

The 2022 TAPPS 3200m state champion just ran 15:06 to place third at the Lovejoy XC Fall Festival.

The Austin Brentwood Christian Academy senior now runs elite times that four years ago were a far cry from where he is now. He shared how he was lapped by two competitors at the TAPPS state track and field meet. 

That didn't sit well with Cooper who thought he was a pretty good runner; he immediately reacted. Cooper joined a running club and recently stopped playing soccer to focus on his running.

Since making that decision all he has done was run PRs of 2:02, 4:23, and 9:33 last spring. This fall, he has three races of 16:07, 14:59, and 15:06. Despite actual distances of those races, he has shown the propensity of running fast and racing well.

The unsigned senior is running himself into the driver's seat of his own recruitment.