Track and Field is a very popular athletics program at Indiana University Kokomo these days. For the 2023-24 season, there are a total of 64 athletes across the men’s and women’s T&F teams. One of these many notable athletes is senior Jake Cooper, who will soon be concluding his four-year career with the Cougars. 

Cooper joined the IUK Track and Field team as a freshman in 2020 and has spent four years competing at a high level in numerous events such as triple jump, long jump, and various distance races. Cooper became the school’s first ever long jumper and triple jumper when he began his career and has left his stamp on the program’s history with various records, including top ten finishes in school history in events such as 60-meter dash and long jump. 

“I am very proud of the achievements and memories I have made at IUK,” says Cooper. “I cannot forget the many memories I have made with my team and the bond that I have formed with them as well as my coaches.” 

Aside from being an efficient and competitive athlete for IU Kokomo, Jake Cooper has also left an incredibly positive impression on his teammates. When asked about Cooper, junior Caleb Vogl said “I have known Jake since we were together at Eastern High School. He is a good man and a good athlete,” while sophomore Rhett Berryman gave a short, yet sincere and effective “Jake is him.” 

It should also be noted that Cooper’s dedication to the sport goes beyond IU Kokomo; outside of competing for the Cougars, he also works as a member of the track and field coaching staff for his former high school, Eastern, which he plans to continue to do after concluding his career with IUK. 

Cooper is an NMAT major and will be graduating this may.