09/20/2023
COOPER THOMAS in the current issue of TAKEOFF!
Cooper Thomas is an exception.
When he attended track practice in the spring of 2023 and witnessed some pole vaulters going over a bungee, he knew he wanted to excel at the sport but he had never picked up a pole.
Cooper jumped 7’6” at his first meet. He sought coaching at Pole Vault Carolina and jumped 13’ at regionals and placed 11th at the 4A NCSHAA Outdoor State Championships. By the end of summer track, Cooper improved his personal best to 13’10”. This is not a normal trajectory for a new vaulter, but Cooper spent 10 years of his life as a gymnast and he also competes in swimming and springboard diving. In anticipation of a military career, Cooper runs every day and he knows where his body is in the air.
Outside of pole vault, Cooper is involved in the Boy Scouts of America, the National Honor Society, and he contributes regularly to the betterment of his community. Cooper received the Most Improved Athlete Award for Cleveland High School’s spring track team.
“Cooper is respectful, coachable, committed, and has great athleticism. He believed we could help him, and that belief helped him improve quickly. He is mentally strong. It is hard to quantify what Cooper can accomplish because he is only beginning.” says Coach Jose
In his nascent pole vault career, the person who has influenced Cooper the most is Coach Jose because he keeps him motivated to meet his full potential. If he had the opportunity to learn from an elite vaulter, it would be Mondo Duplantis. Cooper has been told that he swings like Mondo.
Cooper’s favorite pole vault memory was the 4A Regional meet at Willow Springs High School. It was the first time he competed on a 14’ pole and he cleared 13’ for a new personal best!
