Liputan6.com, Jakarta Cooper Lutkenhaus, an American middle-distance runner, has captured the attention of the athletics world with a series of impressive achievements at such a young age.
The 16-year-old recently made history by breaking the U18 world record in the men's 800 meters.
This victory not only places him among the world's top athletes but also secures his participation in the prestigious 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
On August 3, 2025, Lutkenhaus recorded a sensational time of 1:42.27 in the men's 800m final at the USATF Championships, the fastest time ever achieved by an athlete under 18.
This time surpassed the previous record, which had stood since 2011.
This achievement demonstrates Cooper Lutkenhaus's extraordinary potential for the future.
This success makes him the youngest athlete in history to represent Team USA at the World Championships.
His consistent performance and ability to break numerous records at both the high school and international levels confirm that Cooper Lutkenhaus is a rising phenomenon to be reckoned with in global athletics.
Cooper Lutkenhaus' Sensation on the Running Track
Cooper Lutkenhaus's athletic career culminated on August 3, 2025, when he clocked 1:42.27 in the men's 800m final at the USATF Championships.
This time not only placed him in second place, behind former world champion Donavan Brazier, but also officially broke the U18 world record previously held by Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia since 2011.
This remarkable achievement also secured his ticket to compete at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, making him the youngest athlete ever to represent Team USA at the event.
Previously, Cooper Lutkenhaus had also broken the high school national record in the 800m.
On June 8, he beat Michael Granville's 29-year-old record with a time of 1:46.26 at the Brooks PR Invitational.
Less than two weeks later, on June 21 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals, he further improved his record to 1:45.45.
This achievement made him the first US high school athlete to run under 1:46.Cooper Lutkenhaus' dominance wasn't limited to the outdoor track.
On February 8, 2025, he also set a national indoor high school record in the 800 meters with a time of 1:46.86 at the Millrose Games in New York City.
This record broke the previous record held by Josh Hoey. His consistency and ability to adapt to various track conditions demonstrated his natural talent.
Cooper Lutkenhaus' Profile
Born on December 19, 2008, Cooper Lutkenhaus is a 16-year-old American student.
He attends Northwest High School in Texas.
Lutkenhaus began prioritizing athletics as his primary focus during his freshman year of high school, specializing in the 800-meter dash, although he also competed in the 400-meter dash.
During the 2023-2024 season, Lutkenhaus demonstrated undeniable dominance in the 800-meter dash.
He won three national championships and claimed the Texas Class 5A state title with a time of 1:49.84.
He also set a new American freshman high school record and a Texas state record in the 800-meter dash with a time of 1:47.58 at the Brooks PR Invitational. He also clocked a time of 47.33 in the 400-meter dash.
Career Journey
In the 2025 season, Cooper Lutkenhaus continued his impressive run.
On January 24, he set a new US high school sophomore record in the indoor 800 meters with a time of 1:50.15 at the Texas Tech Invite.
He also became the youngest man ever to qualify for a US 800-meter final.
Known for his powerful "kick" or kick at the end of races, Lutkenhaus displays composure and excellent recovery skills when faced with incidents on the track.
Cooper Lutkenhaus' athletic talent seems to run in his blood, as he comes from a family of athletes.
His father, George, was also a Class 1A state runner-up in the 1600 meters.
Currently, Cooper Lutkenhaus is working with Chris Capo, the head coach at Northwest High School, who has been mentoring him for the past year.
Cooper Lutkenhaus's Personal Best Record
- Outdoor:
- 200 m: 22.12 (Justin 2024)
- 400 m: 46.30 (Austin 2025)
- 800 m: 1:42.27 WU18B (Eugene 2025)
- 1000 m: 2:23.57 (Justin 2025)
- Mile: 4:06.33 (Southlake 2025)
- Indoor: 800 m: 1:46.86 AU18B (New York 2025)