It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s Jalen Cook!

He was scoring touchdowns in the fall, jumping above the rim in the winter, now he’s breaking records in the spring, and it’s his first year doing it. Jalen Cook has already become a household name in the Dallastown community. People see that number 11 jersey, whether it be on the gridiron or on the hardwood, they know that they’re going to see fireworks from the decorated student-athlete. 

This year, Cook decided to join the track & field team, without knowing the achievements he would reach. 

He chose to come out for track for his senior year to have a fun experience with his friends and to stay in shape for football. He originally wanted to focus on football and basketball, which is why he was hesitant on joining track in previous years. 

Set to play college football at Division II powerhouse East Stroudsburg, Cook used track and field as a way to prepare himself. 

“It’s a good way to stay in shape, and my friends got me to come out,” Cook said. 

Cook participates in the 100 meter, 4×100 relay, and high jump. 

Though track was only meant to be for fun, everything changed on April 5.

It was only his second meet. At the Herb Schmidt relays, an invitational event held at York Suburban high school, Cook changed the record books in the high jump event. He jumped  a height of 6’9”, which not only was be his PR, but also the school record, previously held by Brian Thomas in 2017.

Vertical Jumps Coach Mike Gillis thinks that Cook’s impact has been a huge benefit for the team.

“I think he’s definitely been a huge positive impact on the team” Gillis said, “It’s fun to come down here and watch him jump, and the athletes they’ve gotten behind and support him and that’s been something that’s bled into the rest of the team also supporting everybody that’s doing an event.”

Cook’s talent is not only highlighted on the track and field. He was a two time First Team All County safety and wide receiver in football, and he was a two time first team all star in basketball as well.  

Dallastown basketball head coach Michael Grassel says that Cook has always been an elevator. 

“Jalen is an extremely hard worker,” Grassel said. “He showed up to practice every day, practiced hard, and demanded the best of his teammates.”

Grassel is not the only coach that shows high praise for Cook. Levi Murphy, the head football coach for Dallastown, claims that Cook has set the standard for the younger football players.

“He worked his tail off, had positive interactions with our school community, and was an outstanding ambassador for wildcat football” Murphy said.

Right when everyone thought that record could not be met again, Cook did the impossible.

At the Jack Roddick invitations at Shippensburg University on April 19, Cook shattered his original record by jumping an eye popping 7′ 0″, which ranked him number one in PA and number 10 in the entire United States.

“I was so excited for him, it was amazing. The crowd was behind him, they loved it, they supported him, and it was early in the season so I saw like this kid’s got a ton of potential,” Coach Gillis said.

As Cook’s natural high jump talent may be once in a generation, his skills as a sprinter does not go unnoticed either. 

Sprinters coach Patrick Good acknowledges Cook’s impact as a sprinter and how much he works on getting faster.

“He’s a hard worker, and he’s been impacting our team a lot as a sprinter” Good said, “There were times where the lacrosse coach would yell at us because he stays so late after practice to continue working on himself.”

When it comes to sports, Cook stays in a mindset that he can achieve higher than what he’s already accomplished. 

“I have to prove to myself I can do better,” Cook says.

Cook came into the postseason ranked one in Pennsylvania and eight in the United States.

He started post season action placing first at the YAIAA Championships on May 7, and will move on to Districts.

As he continues his track season, Cook does not have any specific goal in mind, he just wants to keep going. 

“I haven’t got one yet” Cook said, “Just trying to get higher.”