May 18, 2022

Life can move pretty fast sometimes. Jason Cook is experiencing that first-hand as a Fairview High School senior and year-round competitive runner for the Warriors.

After talking with Cook, it seems as if he eats, breathes, and lives for running. He started running for Fairview in the seventh grade when he signed up for track and field at the middle school. Now he runs the entire year: cross country in the fall, indoor track and field in the winter, and outdoor track and field in the spring. He has earned six varsity letters since starting in high school. 

“I got into it through my family; my siblings were into running,” Cook explained. “Once I joined, I liked how you can see a lot of improvement throughout the years compared to other sports. The competitions are a lot more fun, to compete against all those kids.”

This year, Cook served as captain of both the cross country and track and field teams. He qualified for the state meet in Columbus for the second consecutive year in cross country after barely missing the state meet during his sophomore year.

“My sophomore season, we missed the state meet by seven points, which is really close in cross country,” Cook said. “Our junior season, our main goal was to make states that year. We came out at regionals, and we were the last team to make it. That just fueled me for my senior season to make it as an individual.”

Cook’s senior year in cross country was a memorable one. Cook finished sixth at the Great Lakes Conference meet, earning him 1st team All-GLC honors. Then, at the regional competition in October, Cook had an exciting finish to qualify for the state meet.

“In that whole race, 24 individuals make it out [of regionals],” Cook explained. “In that whole race, I was sitting 25th until the last home stretch. I just out-kicked everyone to make it.”

Cook competes with other Fairview High School students in indoor track during the winter season, sponsored by the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches. He qualified for the indoor state meet in the 4 x 800 meter relay in both his sophomore and senior seasons. He also barely takes any time off between seasons, as he continually focuses on his training. 

“Cross country, our practices are like two, or two and a half hours,” Cook said. “I do lifting outside of that, and I do a lot of research on different runners. I look at a lot of results and what other teams are running to see who I am going up against.”

Cook is now in-season for outdoor track and field with Fairview. In early May, the team finished competing in the Great Lakes Conference championship. Cook and the Warriors are now preparing for the district, regional, and state competitions later in the month.

“Our 4 x 800 has a good chance to make states,” Cook said. “Compared to what teams in our region are running right now, we’re faster than most of them right now.”

After high school, Cook plans on attending the University of Cincinnati to study business. As of now, Cook will probably join a running club in college, and he remains undecided if he tries to walk on for the Bearcats’ cross country team. But as he looks back at his time at Fairview, Cook will always have fond memories of the competitions, the friendships, and lessons learned from these grueling sports.

“I would tell everyone to join. Everyone gets a chance to compete, and everyone makes the team,” Cook said. “You make the best memories through it.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Jason Cook, senior, was named a captain of both the Fairview High School cross country and track teams this season.