Florida sophomore Tyrese Cooper nearly broke another national record today by running 46.01 for second place in the Olympic Developmental 400m at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The time ranks No. 2 on the all-time prep list behind Elzie Coleman , who set the national record of 45.92 in 2004 at the Simplot Games.
The Simplot Games are held in Pocatello, Idaho, at an altitude of 4,462 feet above sea level. Cooper's mark is thus the fastest sea level indoor 400m by a high school athlete.
He finished behind only Marqueze Washington, who won the section in 45.63. Cooper's mark was faster than all but one collegiate competitor, LSU's Michael Cherry, who won in 45.84.
It was Cherry's 300m national high school record that Cooper broke earlier this season. He lowered Cherry's 33.05 to 33.03 at the VA Showcase, then 32.87 at the Armory Track Invitational last weekend.
Cooper will chase the 200m national record tomorrow vs. a field that includes Olympian Wallace Spearmon. Noah Lyles set the record in that event just over a year ago in 20.63. Cooper's indoor PR is 21.22.
