Cooper Lutkenhaus Breaks Records: Texas 800m 2025 Highlights
I thought I would take minute to review some of the top Texan results for the 2025 Outdoor Season now that the summer Nationals are complete.
Obviously no list or conversation can start without mentioning what Cooper Lutkenhaus did at the US National Championships. I was lucky enough to be in Heyward the afternoon he broke Michael Granville’s 29-year old record at Nike. The weather wasn’t great and I really didn’t think he’d have a legit shot. The day before when Luke Bone ran the 7th or 8th best all-time (at the time) during the U20 Final, the weather was much nicer. So when Coop broke the record, the place went crazy.
So we get to the ‘Senior’ Championships and Cooper has amazed everyone by getting through the rounds. The semis almost gave me a heart attack when he stumbled, but his recovery, focus and shear determination got him through. Every race looked like that would be it for the high school sophomore. Then came the final. Earlier in the day I got a message from his dad, “Perfect day to race today in the final! Will see what he has left.”
And boy did we.
I scared the daylights out of my dog screaming at the TV and that was because he had qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo. I hadn’t seen the time - 1:42.27. My phone blew up with messages from parents and friends around the state losing their minds.
He obliterated the previous world best for an Under-18 athlete. It surpassed the former U18 world best, held by Timothy Kitum since the 2012 London Olympics, by a staggering 1.1 seconds. It is also faster than the age-17 and age-18 world records. His performance instantly placed him at No. 4 on the U.S. all-time performer list and ranks him as the 18th fastest in world history.
He broke his own personal best (from Nike) by almost three seconds and has been called one of the most astonishing performances in American track history, defying typical limitations of age, experience, and high school competition.
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer kid from a nicer family. Of course he has now turned pro and will forego his high school eligibility.
Additional shoutouts to Luke Bone (mentioned above) who finished behind Cooper at the State Meet in 6A and is now heading to Texas Tech and Caden Gary, who capped a great season season winning the 5A 800 and 1600. He’s heading to A&M but I was under the impression he was not going to continue running, although that may change.
Colby Huntress will be the top returning high schooler in the state next spring at 800 meters.
And lastly, I would like to say congratulations to Evan Martin from Rockwall Heath who qualified for UIL in Cross Country, Track (800m) and Golf! That’s a crazy triple.
TEXAS 2025 OUTDOOR BOYS TOP 25
| 1 | Cooper Lutkenhaus | Unattached - TX | USATF National Senior Outdoor Championships | 1:42.27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Luke Bone | Unattached - TX | USATF U20 Championships | 1:46.87 |
| 3 | Caden Gary | Lucas Lovejoy | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 1:50.74 |
| 4 | Heath Grant | Willis | Dan Green Invitational | 1:50.99 |
| 5 | Colby Huntress | Born To Run | USATF U20 Championships | 1:51.54 |
| 6 | Evan Martin | Unattached - TX | RunningLane Track Championships | 1:51.68 |
| 7 | Mathias Pitzel | Katy Tompkins | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 1:51.82 |
| 8 | Ethan Johnston | Pottsboro | Whitesboro HS Track Meet | 1:51.84 |
| 9 | Edgar Thielens | Houston Awty International | TTFCA Meet of Champions - 9th Annual | 1:52.21 |
| 10 | Bennett Cory | Pilot Point | Whitesboro HS Track Meet | 1:52.52 |
| 11 | Maddox Davis | Katy | UIL 6A - Region 3 | 1:52.56 |
| 12 | Liam Bengtsson | Northwest Nelson | UIL 6A - Area 03 & 04 | 1:52.66 |
| 13 | Andrew Thompson | Lake Highlands | Nike Outdoor Nationals | 1:52.83 |
| 14 | Ian Hill | Iowa Colony | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 1:52.93 |
| 15 | Jayden Washington | Red Oak | UIL 5A - Region 2 & UIL 6A - Region 1 | 1:52.99 |
| 16 | Zachary Brumfield | Unattached - TX | New Balance Nationals Outdoor | 1:53.01 |
| 17 | Joshua Odums | Mansfield Legacy | UIL 6A - Area 03 & 04 | 1:53.05 |
| 18 | Franklin Perez | Lancaster | UIL 6A - Region 2 & UIL 1A - Region 3 | 1:53.13 |
| 19 | Eli Nettles | Humble Atascocita | Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational | 1:53.20 |
| 20 | Fletcher Draper | Keller Central | UIL 6A - Area 03 & 04 | 1:53.26 |
| 21 | Peyton Mabee | LC Clear Falls | UIL 6A - Region 3 | 1:53.36 |
| 21 | Noah Strohman | Unattached - TX | Music City Track Carnival | 1:53.36 |
| 23 | Victor Aviles | Burnet | UIL 4A - Region 3 | 1:53.44 |
| 24 | Chris Creedon | LC Clear Creek | William D Sirmon Invitational | 1:53.75 |
| 24 | Ben Tealer | Northside Brandeis | UIL 6A - Area 27 & 28 | 1:53.75 |
| 24 | Camden Gibson | Conroe Woodlands College Park | UIL 6A - District 13 | 1:53.75 |
On the girls side, ten ran under 2:10 led by Sophia Bendet of San Antonio (Universal City Randolph) who is now running at Texas A&M. She outpaced Mia Perez of Spring Branch (Smithson Valley) at the TTFCA Meet of Champions. Perez is now heading to the University of Texas. Both were the class of this event all season.
Bendet won the 800 meters, 1600 meters and was on the 4×400 meter 3A Champion teams.
Perez captured the 5A state title over Faith Murphy of Austin Anderson (now at Arkansas).
Nora Ryan took the Class 6A title over super freshman Caroline Barrow.
TEXAS 2025 OUTDOOR GIRLS TOP 25
| 1 | Sophia Bendet | Unattached - TX | TTFCA Meet of Champions - 9th Annual | 2:06.24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mia Perez | Unattached - TX | TTFCA Meet of Champions - 9th Annual | 2:07.01 |
| 3 | Nora Ryan | Prosper | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 2:07.51 |
| 4 | Mia Perez | Smithson Valley | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 2:07.60 |
| 5 | Caroline Barrow | Katy Taylor | UIL 6A - Region 3 | 2:07.63 |
| 6 | Faith Murphy | Austin Anderson | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 2:08.44 |
| 7 | Micaela Villarreal | San Antonio Antonian | TTFCA Meet of Champions - 9th Annual | 2:08.54 |
| 8 | Caila Lyons | San Antonio Swift Track Club | AAU Junior Olympic Games | 2:08.86 |
| 9 | Hailey Johnson | Lake Creek | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 2:09.26 |
| 10 | Taryn Bailey | DeSoto | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 2:09.68 |
| 11 | Sophie Peterson | Houston Memorial | Nike Outdoor Nationals | 2:10.59 |
| 12 | Savanah Moya | New Braunfels High School | UIL 5A - District 26 | 2:10.64 |
| 13 | Jordyn Brown | Mansfield | UIL State Track and Field State Championships | 2:10.70 |
| 14 | Darasimi Odelowo | The Woodlands | UIL 6A - District 13 | 2:11.04 |
| 15 | Daniela Shelfo | Northside Taft | Clemens Invitational | 2:11.18 |
| 15 | Micaela Villarreal | San Antonio Swift Track Club | Nike Outdoor Nationals | 2:11.18 |
| 17 | Lilly Koenig | Smithson Valley | UIL 5A - District 26 | 2:11.24 |
| 18 | Daniela Shelfo | San Antonio Swift Track Club | AAU Junior Olympic Games | 2:11.47 |
| 19 | Yaneli Rocha | McAllen | Smithson Valley Ranger Relays | 2:11.49 |
| 20 | Emma Wade | Cedar Park Vista Ridge | Cedar Park Vista Ridge Ranger Relays | 2:11.62 |
| 21 | Kenli Atwood | Holliday High School | UIL 3A - Region 1 | 2:11.92 |
| 22 | Casey Scherpereel | Track Houston Youth Track Club | AAU Junior Olympic Games | 2:12.06 |
| 23 | Meredith Wolfe | Round Rock | Round Rock Invitational | 2:12.15 |
| 24 | Adeline Bennett | Flower Mound | Jaguar Invitational | 2:12.63 |
| 25 | Presley Andras | Dallas Ursuline Academy | TAPPS 6A Varsity District Meet | 2:12.67 |