Another Year, Another Record for Lutkenhaus
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Cooper Lutkenhaus kicked off his 2025 track season at the Texas Tech Invite, facing off against collegiate competition in his first indoor race. The top high school 800m runner from last year, Lutkenhaus started strong, running a 26.63 for third place through 200m, behind Ayman Zahafi and USC's Nathan Cumberbatch. He maintained his position at 400m (53.93) and 600m (1:22.65), but as the race neared its final lap, it seemed like the high schooler might fall behind. However, Lutkenhaus is known for his strong finish, and with 80m to go, he surged past Zahafi and Cumberbatch. His final lap split of 27.51 propelled him to a national-leading 1:50.15, edging out Cumberbatch (1:50.30) and Zahafi (1:50.88).
Lutkenhaus' time set a new sophomore class indoor 800m national record, surpassing Michael Granville's 1994 mark of 1:51.12. His time also ranks him 15th all-time for the indoor 800m among all high school boys.
All-Time Sophomore Boys 800m Times (May Be Incomplete)
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATE PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:50.15 | TX Justin Northwest | 2027 | |
| 2 | 1:51.14 | VA NEWRIVERELITE | 2026 | |
| 3 | 1:51.50 | VA Chantilly | 2017 | |
| 4 | 1:51.90 | MA Edge Elite Track Club | 2024 | |
| 5 | 1:52.72 | AL Vestavia Hills HS | 2023 | AHSAA State Indoor Meet 2nd F |