While American kids will be up early getting ready for school, sixteen-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus will be preparing to compete on one of the biggest stages in track and field: The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Lutkenhaus will race the first round of the Men's 800m on September 16th at 6:35 AM ET at the 2025 World Championships.

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There's no doubt that Lutkenhaus had a generational year on the oval office, establishing himself as one of America's top middle-distance runners in history following his record-breaking performance at the 2025 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships back in August clocking a 1:42.27 in the finals of the Men's 800m. He reset the U.S. High School National Record by three seconds, broke the U.S. U20 Record, set the World U18 Record, and slotted himself in as US #4 All-Time behind Donavan Brazier, Josh Hoey, and Bryce Hoppel.

Rewinding a bit to earlier in the year, Lutkenhaus began to make noise in the middle-distance scene in February at the 2025 Millrose Games, he broke Josh Hoey's high school indoor national record with the first sub-1:47 effort by a high schooler indoors in 1:46.86.

He later broke Michael Granville's near three-decade outdoor record in 1:46.26. He would keep the momentum going into the summer, when he reset his own record again at Nike Outdoor Nationals in 1:45.57, aka the first sub-1:46 effort ever by a U.S. high schooler.

At the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Lutkenhaus got another taste of racing against professional athletes, and the youngster proved that he can race with the veterans despite his experience levels. He remained composed and kept himself in races (even when things got physical) as there were moments when he had gotten tripped up but managed to find a last minute gear to kick his way into the next round. 

His 'Road to Tokyo' began at USAs - when he was seeded against the best in the qualifying rounds. In the first round he took second behind Josh Hoey in 1:47.23. He then took second behind Bryce Hoppel in the semi-finals (nearly matched personal best with 1:45.37). He then, poetically finished runner-up with a World Championship Standard and punched his ticket to Tokyo behind Donavan Brazier with a historic 1:42.27 in the final.

Just a few weeks after that performance, Lutkenhaus became the youngest track and field athlete ever to sign professionally with Nike, therefore foregoing his current high school eligibility (and future NCAA eligibility). He will continue training under his current coach and alongside his now-former high school teammates.

While the exact seed lists aren't out for the World Athletics Championships, Lutkenhaus could find himself going up against far more than what he has already faced, including Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Djamel Sedjati, Marco Arop, and so many more.

Lutkenhaus is set to compete in the first-round heats on Tuesday, September 16.

....and last but not least, Cooper got his own send-off earlier last week from his high school!

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