Northwest track phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus turns pro at 16, signs with Nike
Justin Northwest track phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus is turning professional at 16 years old and has signed a deal with Nike, according to multiple reports.
“It was a lot of conversations with my parents, my coach,” Lutkenhaus told FloTrack. “But we just felt it was the right decision just because, you know, you don’t get this chance every day.”
By signing, Lutkenhaus will forgo his high school and collegiate eligibility. He will be represented by Ray Flynn and Flynn Sports, according to Citius Mag.
He will remain at Northwest High School to train with cross country and track coach Chris Capeau.
Lutkenhaus stunned the track world at the U.S. outdoor championships earlier this month, setting the under-18 record in the 800 meters (1:42.27) and earning a spot in the world championships Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo. He will be the youngest American to compete in the event.
Lutkenhaus obliterated his previous high school national record of 1:45.45, which he set in June, by more than three seconds. It was a U.S. U20 national record, a division he remains eligible in for the next four years.
In May, Lutkenhaus set the 800-meter Texas state record (1:47.04) at the UIL state track meet to win the state title. He set the national record at the Brooks PR Invitational (1:46.26) and improved his time to 1:45.45 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Entering the state meet, he had time of 1:48.57.
His six-second improvement in the span of less than four months skyrocketed him from a local phenom to a full-blown, nationally recognized track sensation. His time of 1:42.27 is 1.36 seconds away from the world record set by Kenya’s David Rudisha in 2012 (1:40.91).
In Tokyo, Lutkenhaus will compete alongside Donovan Brazier, the winner of the 2019 world title, and Olympian Bryce Hoppel, who holds the U.S. record (1:41.67).
Lutkenhaus, at 16, has the 18th-fastest 800-meter time in world history. His time is the fourth-fastest for an American in history behind Hoppel, Brazier and Josh Hoey.
As a freshman, Lutkenhaus won the 800-meter state title (1:49.84). Despite only competing in high school athletics for two seasons, Lutkenhaus has his legacy cemented as Texas’ best high school 800-meter runner ever.
This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 10:16 AM.
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