HSR-Setter Lutkenhaus Made Most Of Millrose Race

SOMETIMES THE FUTURE comes knocking at the door. Other times it’s in such a hurry that it smashes down the door altogether. Such appears to be the case of young Cooper Lutkenhaus of Judson, Texas, who is wasting no time trying to establish himself as the fastest prep 800 runner ever.

Last year, the Northwest High frosh stunned many when he won the Brooks PR title in 1:47.58, destroying the national frosh record (which had been Brandon Miller’s 1:49.87 at the start of the year).

Now, having turned 16 in December, the 6-1/155 soph has taken on indoor track for the first time. His initial race in Lubbock gave him a 1:50.15 and the 10th grade national record. His next came at the Millrose Games, where an invite to the pro 800 gave him a chance to race the big boys, including indoor HSR holder Josh Hoey.

Up front, Hoey put on his own show with a 1:43.90 American Record, while Lutkenhaus ran a steady race at the back of the pack, placing 6th as his 1:46.86 demolished Hoey’s old HSR of 1:47.67 from ’18.

“Whenever you see that fast of a time, you’re a little shocked, but also excited,” says Lutkenhaus, the No. 1 HS All-America last season. “But my coach and I were talking about it. We didn’t really have an opportunity to run fast yet, and that was a true opportunity. And I knew I was stronger and faster than I was at the end of last year when I ran 1:47. So, we just looked at that and decided we could run faster.

“It was an awesome experience getting to race up in New York, it was my first time ever there, and getting to race the pros… All of them are super nice people. Hopefully I get to meet them again soon.”

Was he scared about being a 10th-grader stepping onto the historic Armory track with some of the fastest runners on earth? “I don’t really find it intimidating,” he says. “I think the way I look at any race, the track is the same length every time. I think having older guys and better competition, that should be fun. You should be excited to get out there, go race, and hopefully run a fast time.”

Lutkenhaus credits his family background with giving him a healthy attitude toward competition. His father (the athletic director at Northwest High) was a Texas State runner-up at 1600. One older brother swims at Adams State; the…