COOPER LUTKENHAUS is already one of the hottest athletics prospects in the United States at the tender age of 16.
And if he continues his breakneck-speed development, he’ll no doubt one day wim Olympic gold for Team USA.
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Lutkenhaus made shockwaves in the track and field world last week with an incredible 800m run at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Oregon.
His one-minute 44.27-second run was so impressive that Alberto Salazar scandal whistleblower and world-respected coach Steve Magness dubbed it “the most impressive athletic feat in history.”
The high-schooler’s performance at Hayward Field saw him become the FOURTH FASTEST American in track and field history.
Incredibly, his time would’ve won him every 800m Olympic gold medal except for the 2012, 2016 and 2024 gongs.
When it comes to track and field, Magness has seen it all, so his assessment of Lutkenhaus’ breakout run carries some serious weight.
He told The Times: “Cooper Lutkenhaus beat two world champs and finished a tenth behind another [Brazier].
“It’s mind-blowing. There are no superlatives. His performance makes high-school LeBron [James] look like a nobody.
Donavan Brazier, who pipped Lutkenhaus to first place, gave a similarly glowing assessment of the teen sensation.
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And he admitted he’s glad he won’t be around to race him when he hits his physical prime.
He said: “I saw someone coming up and I was like, ‘Dang, this could be the high-schooler.
“This kid’s phenomenal. I’m glad I’m 28 and hopefully won’t have to deal with him in his prime because that dude is definitely special.”
Lutkenhaus was also blown away with his incredible run, in which he ran the final 100m in a mere 12.48 seconds
He told Track & XC News: “I obviously wasn’t supposed to make the team.
“A lot of people didn’t think I’d make the final, so being able to do that was just a special moment.
“Moving with 200 to 250 to go is the big thing we talked about with my coach.
“I knew if I went out a little too fast, I might not be able to close as well.”
His performance makes high-school LeBron [James] look like a nobody.”
Steve Magness on Cooper Lutkenhaus’ incredible run
Lutkenhaus will be brought back down to Earth next week when he returns to his classroom at Northwest High School outside Fort Worth, Texas.
But he’ll represent Team USA at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month.
And he can’t wait to test himself against the best in the world.
He said: “These next four weeks, I just want to take advantage of it and have fun with all the training.
“This whole year has just been exciting.
“I’m ready to get out there and see what I can do against the best in the world.”
