Cooper Lutkenhaus is a 17-year-old American track and field athlete who specialises in the 800 meters. He is best known for shattering the world under-18 record with a time of 1:42:27 at the 2025 USA outdoor championships.
Cooper competes in the 800 meters with some of the best performances in the 400 meters and short track events. As of 2025, he is ranked #64 in the men’s 800m world rankings. His journey from a school kid to a high-profile professional athlete and becoming the youngest American ever to compete at the World Athletics Championships is inspiring.
We will discuss all about the Cooper Lutkenhaus 800 m championships, his journey, personal life, net worth and More.
Who is Cooper Lutkenhaus?
Cooper Lutkenhaus is an American track and field prodigy, born on December 19, 2008, in Justin, Texas, USA. At a very young age, he has made major records like 1:42:27 in outdoor 800 m, 1:46:86 in indoor 800m and 46.30 in the 400m. He was coached by Chris Capeau. Cooper has balanced his schooling and training at the same time.
| About | Details |
| Full Name | Cooper Lutkenhaus |
| Date of Birth | December 19, 2008 |
| Place of Birth | Justin, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Primary Events | 800m, 400m, 800m short track |
| Personal Bests | 1:42:27 in outdoor 800 m, 1:46:86 in indoor 800m and 46.30 in the 400m |
| Coach | Chris Capeau |
| World Ranking | #64 (Men’s 800m) |
Cooper Lutkenhaus Age, Height, Weight and Physical Stats
Born in 2008, Cooper Lutkenhaus is 17 years old. His height is estimated to be between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches. He weighs around 66-75 kg, which is 145-165 lbs. He has a very lean and long-striding body build. Cooper is well-suited for all his track events and is ready to make more records in the future.
| Height (feet) | 6’0” – 6’2” |
| Height (cm) | 183-188 cm |
| Weight (approx) | 145-165 lbs (66-75 kg) |
Cooper Lutkenhaus Family Background
In the life of track athlete Cooper Lutkenhaus was born in a very supportive and understanding family. His father, George, was a competitor for the University of North Texas and is currently the Athletic Director of Northwest Independent School District (NISD).
His mother, Tricia, also competed at a high level by qualifying for State as a member of the 4x400m Relay team and is currently a middle school principal. George and Tricia instilled discipline and ethics into Cooper.
Cooper has two brothers: George Jr., who is also a very talented athlete and Andrew, who set a personal best of 1:50.04 at the national championships. Their household in Justin, Texas, is always full of competition and has an athletic environment.
Cooper Lutkenhaus parents are his biggest supporters and strive to achieve his goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games.
| Father | George |
| Mother | Tricia Lutkenhaus |
| Brothers | Andrew & George Jr. |
Cooper Lutkenhaus Educational Qualifications
Educationally, Cooper Lutkenhaus attends high school in Texas, balancing his training with academics. In addition, during the 2023-2024 season as a freshman, he won every 800-meter race he participated in. At the Texas Class 5A State Championships, he finished first with a time of 1 minute 49.84 seconds and set a record of 1 minute 47.58 seconds for freshman runners at the Brooks PR Invitational.
Cooper Lutkenhaus Career Journey
- Freshman (2023-2024): Won all 800m races. Came first at the Texas 5A State with a time of 1:49.84. Set the U.S. freshman record with 1:47.58, which is also a personal best by Brooks. Placed 47th in state cross country with a time of 16:23.4.
- Sophomore Indoor (2025): Set the U.S. high school record in the 800m with 1:46.86 at Millrose. Won Nike Indoor Nationals with a time of 1:47.83, which was a meet record. Was named Indoor Athlete of the Year.
- Sophomore Outdoor (2025): Won the Texas 6A 800m state with a personal best of 1:47.04. Came in second in the 400m with a time of 46.30.
- USA Champs (August 2025): Finished second with a world U18 record of 1:42.27. Was the fourth fastest American ever in that event.
- Went Pro (August 2025): Became the first U.S. male high school graduate to turn professional. Signed with Nike. Coach is Chris Capeau.
- World Champs (Tokyo 2025): Became the youngest U.S. athlete ever to compete. Placed seventh in the 800m prelims with a time of 1:47.68. Won the Youth Athlete of the Year award.
Cooper Lutkenhaus World Championships: International Career
Lutkenhaus was the youngest ever American athlete to compete at the 2025 World Athletics Championship, held in Tokyo in September, making his international debut at a younger age than both Erriyon Knighton (18) and Mary Cain (17) when they made their respective debuts. Lutkenhaus finished seventh in his heat in the 800-meter race, clocking a time of 1:47.68 and receiving valuable experience competing against other elite-level athletes from around the world. While Lutkenhaus did not win a medal, he did earn his qualification through a runner-up finish at the USA Championships, setting an unprecedented new mark within the sport of track and field.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time |
| 2025 | World Championships | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | 7th (prelim) | 800 m | 1:47.68 |
Cooper Lutkenhaus National Career
Across the country, Lutkenhaus was a standout in youth and high school competitions.
- In 2024, he went unbeaten in the 800m race and won the Texas Class 5A state championship.
- In 2025, he won the Texas Class 6A 800m state title, placed second at the USA Outdoor Championships, and was named USATF Youth Athlete of the Year.
- He also won several national events, including the Nike Indoor Nationals.
- His transition to professional running has allowed him to compete at higher levels, where he has already beaten Olympians like Hoppel.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time |
| 2025 | Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 800 m | 1:42.27 |
Cooper Lutkenhaus World Records and Best Performances
At the age of 17, Cooper has made some significant world records and performances:
| Event | Time | Record Type | Date/Venue |
| 800m Outdoor | 1:42.27 | World U18; U.S. HS; #4 USA | Aug 2025, USA Champs |
| 800m Indoor | 1:46.86 | U.S. High School | 2025 Millrose |
| 800m Outdoor | 1:47.58 | U.S. HS Freshman | 2024 Brooks PR |
| 400m Outdoor | 46.3 | Personal Best | 2025 Texas State |
| 1600m Outdoor | 4:14.17 | Personal Best | 2025 Early |
Cooper Lutkenhaus Net Worth (2025)
While the amount for Cooper Lutkenhaus’s net worth is not publicly available, by the year 2025, we anticipate that his net worth will be hundreds of thousands of dollars due to his professional contracts with both companies and sponsorship opportunities through Nike. Likewise, Cooper earns additional income through performance-based bonuses for competing at the USA championships and for finishing 1st place at the world championships. Due to being part of the Nike elite program and other endorsement contracts, along with winning the USATF Youth Athlete of the Year award, Cooper has certainly increased his earning capacity through exposure to the media and winning awards.
Cooper Lutkenhaus Social Media Presence
Cooper Lutkenhaus is present on social media through an Instagram account. There, he posts about his clips, race recaps, and family moments. He shared all his happy moments and achievements with all his followers to keep them updated. He has gained a lot of followers at such a young age.
| 23.9K | cooper.lutkenhaus |
What’s Next for Cooper Lutkenhaus?
At age 17, Cooper Lutkenhaus is training for the 2028 Olympics. He is making his debut at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo and is working with his coach, Chris Capeau, on developing strength, speed, and race strategy before then. His plans to compete in indoor track meets, including the Diamond League and the U.S. Championships in 2026, where he hopes to achieve his goal of running faster than 1:46 for the 800-meter distance. In addition to the indoor meets, he wants to earn a medal at the World U20 Championships in Oregon during August of 2026. His ultimate goal is to break the current American outdoor record for the 800 meters by running faster than 1:41.67. To achieve his long term goals, Cooper balances his training schedule with Nike, rests, and stays active, participating in quality meets against the best athletes in the country.
