Remember the 16-year-old American high school 800m star who took second at last month’s U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, running a U18 world record of 1:42.27? That’s Cooper Lutkenhaus, and he’s continuing to make history.
On Monday, Citius Mag announced that Lutkenhaus is turning pro, signing with Nike, and forgoing the remainder of his high school athletic career. Despite the move, he says he plans to finish his final two years of high school and will remain enrolled at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, where he just began his Grade 11 year.
This decision comes just weeks before he is set to race the men’s 800m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. When he lines up for the heats on Sept. 16, he will be 16 years and 272 days old, which will make him the youngest American ever to represent Team USA at a world championship.
American distance running legend reacts to teenage phenom
Lutkenhaus’s 800m best currently ranks as the fourth-fastest time in U.S. history, behind only American record holder Bryce Hoppel, 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier, and 2025 world indoor champion Josh Hoey. He is also the sixth-fastest man in the world this year.
This announcement makes Lutkenhaus the youngest American athlete ever to turn professional in track and field, surpassing Mary Cain, who signed with Nike at age 17.
