The Greatest High School Athlete Ever? Cooper Lutkenhaus on Running 1:42 In The 800m at 16 & Shocking the Track World By Becoming The Youngest Track Athlete To Ever Make A National Team & Set A U20 WR

THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Dominic Schlueter

Running, Sports

4.8 • 686 Ratings

🗓️ 15 August 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Cooper Lutkenhaus isn't just the greatest high school athlete alive. He might be the greatest high school athlete ever.

Most 16-year-old track stars are making noise at their state meet. Cooper Lutkenhaus is making history on the national stage—running 1:42 against the pros and smashing records. This comes after a 1:46.86 high school indoor 800m record at Millrose in addition to a 1:45.45 outdoor record at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

In Eugene, at the USATF Championships, he didn't just survive the pressure of racing America's best. He crushed expectations, broke the World U18 record, and became the fourth-fastest American in history. That's not "promising." That's historic. And it puts Cooper in the conversation as the greatest high school athlete ever.

We're looking to dig deep into how he found another gear in the final 120 meters, how he managed the demands of three rounds in two days, and what comes next as he prepares to represent Team USA at the World Championships in Tokyo.

This isn't just a story about a teenager running fast—it's about a fearless performance on one of track & field's biggest stages, and a moment that redefines what's possible.

Cooper Lutkenhaus didn't just run a race in Eugene. He announced himself to the world.

Tap into the Cooper Lutkenhaus Special.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I always think it's a conversation you should have. Let's just say a bronze medal at Tokyo,
0:04.5	that'd be the craziest thing ever. But again, just kind of taking it day by day, just how I did
0:10.4	at USA is focused on one race at a time because I feel like when you start, you're on the first
0:15.8	round and you're thinking, how am I going to meddle in the final? There's a shot you might just not make
0:19.9	the final just because you're not focused on that one race that you're in at the moment.
0:31.2	Today on the Running Effect podcast, it's always a privilege to sit down with Cooper.
0:35.6	He's on the podcast two previous times before last year as a freshman after he
0:40.8	won the Brooks PR Invitational and did so unremarkable fashion.
0:44.3	And then this past year before the Brooks PR Invitational, where he ultimately set a national
0:48.9	record.
0:49.4	And that very same national record, he just broke again at the age of 16, running 142.27, ticking three seconds
0:57.3	off of his own national record and running splits of 50.66 in the first lap and 51.61, a final
1:05.3	lap, utterly tactical and mature execution. He looked out of it with 100 meters to go. But as you
1:10.4	know, if you watch Coop enough times, he always kicks with 100 to go when everyone else is dying. He finds a way, he finds a path, he gets it done. Today's conversation, we just dive into the memories, the moments, the training, everything that led up to this performance and what it means for his future. I hope you guys enjoy this one. If you do, share it with a family member, a friend, a teammate, someone who you think
1:28.8	would find value and benefit from it. Over 50% of people find and discover their favorite podcast through the recommendation of a friend. So for us to have the impact we want to have with this podcast, I need your help in doing that. We greatly appreciate it. Also give us a five-star review. It takes three to five seconds to do so and hit the follow or subscribe button so you don't miss more incredible episodes like this in the future. Without for their due, enjoy the conversation with the youngest ever member in the history of USA track and field to make a world championship team on a senior level. Cooper Luckenhouse.
2:08.4	Cooper, Lutton House, welcome to the Running Effect podcast, the man of the hour you've been on.
2:13.9	I think this is the third or fourth time had you on as a freshman who we were just excited.
2:16.3	You were breaking 150 and thought you were hot stuff.
2:18.8	14 months later, you're making world championship teams and running 142 how you doing this morning i'm doing great dominic
2:24.1	thanks for having me on how crazy is the recent progression to you where that that first
2:28.2	conversation which was awesome to have you on it was maybe your first ever podcast or one of the
2:33.0	early ones um i asked you, I was like,
	...

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