WATCH: North Texas phenom wins indoor 800m national title at 17 years old
Justin Northwest phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus’ stock just keeps rising.
He won the 800-meter national championship at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships on Sunday.
With a 1:46.68 mark, Lutkenhaus claimed his first national title and qualified for the upcoming World Indoor Championships that start March 20 in Poland.
Lutkenhaus took the lead 200 meters into the race and never surrendered it. He didn’t need a signature late race kick that has powered his career, and led him to a career-defining 1:42.27 personal best performance at the USATF Outdoor National Championships in August.
Lutkenhaus is 17 years old and still trains at Northwest High School despite turning professional and being a Nike athlete.
This story was originally published March 2, 2026 at 9:24 AM.
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