For nearly five decades, the indoor 3,000-meter record in Ferris men’s track remained untouched until junior Cooper Sorsen shattered it.
Competing at the Jet’s Pizza Invitational at Saginaw Valley State University on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, Sorsen blazed through the race in 8:13.95, surpassing the long-standing school record of 8:16.04 set by Tony Fleming in 1976.
His performance not only secured a national qualifying mark, but it cemented his name in Bulldog history.
Sorsen’s momentum didn’t stop there. Just two weeks later, on Feb. 15, he led the Bulldogs again at the Grand Valley State Big Meet, winning the mile run in 4:13.97.
The third fastest time ever recorded by a Ferris athlete in the event. With each race, Sorsen continues to raise the bar, proving himself as one of the top distance runners in the program’s history.
However, his focus was on being a supportive teammate and running strong. If he hits his goal, great. If not, there would be other chances. The last thing he wanted was to put unnecessary pressure on himself and slip into the wrong headspace.
“I knew the record was possible, but I couldn’t fixate on it.” Sorsen said. “Because if I focused on that number too much, the pressure would build up and that’s not the mindset I wanted to be in before a race. I had to take it seriously but not too seriously. That balance is what worked for me.”
For Sorsen, breaking the record wasn’t part of the plan, it was a surprise.
After wrapping up the cross-country season in the fall, Sorsen sat down with his coaches to map out his goals for the indoor track season.
One of the key targets they set was hitting 8:20 in the 3k. It was an ambitious but realistic goal for Sorsen. Heading into the Jet’s Pizza Invitational, Sorsen wasn’t fixated on hitting that number, not yet.
Breaking the 3,000-meter record was a milestone moment, but Sorsen wasn’t done making his mark.
In the GLIAC Indoor Championships this past weekend, Sorsen snapped the record again, posting an 8:14.12 in the 3,000-meter race, earning him a third-place finish.
When Sorsen first joined the program as a freshman, he looked up to Donis Harris, a standout senior who left his name all over the Ferris record books.
“He couldn’t end up getting the 3k record, which is funny now because I got it but he still holds more records so far.” Sorsen said.
Harris, the school’s 5,000-meter record holder with a time of 14:24.16, set the standard for what was possible. Now, Sorsen is following in those footsteps, making his own mark.
“Donis was a pivotal person in my life, it was so good to see what he could do.” Sorsen said. “As a freshman, I really wanted to be like him. Now I’m at a point where I could be on that level.”
Even after graduating, Harris remains closely connected to Ferris State track and field.
Many of the upperclassmen on the team now were freshmen when Harris was a senior. Whenever he can, he makes the trip to support the team, knowing how special those bonds are.
“Cooper was always a great kid and a hard worker, and it’s been amazing watching him grow and become the athlete he is today,” Harris said.
While Harris left his legacy, he never let records define him. His mindset was always about racing first. The numbers were just “in the back of his head.”
As for being someone younger athletes looked up to, Harris never set out to be a role model. He simply showed up, put in the work, and led by example.
Now, the cycle continues. Just as Sorsen once looked up to Harris, he’s carving out his own place in Bulldog history, leaving a path for the next generation to follow.