17-Year-Old Cooper Lutkenhaus Sets Double World Records in 14 Days

The teenage runner broke indoor world records in the 800m and 600m events at recent meets in North Carolina.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Cooper Lutkenhaus, a 17-year-old middle-distance runner, has set two world records in the span of just 14 days. He broke the indoor 800m world record with a time of 1:44.03 at the ASICS Sound Running meet in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, surpassing a record that had stood for over 26 years. Just two weeks earlier, Lutkenhaus set the world lead in the 600m at the Millrose Games with a time of 1:14.15.

Why it matters

Lutkenhaus's record-breaking performances have sparked excitement about his potential to become a global star in the 800m event. At just 17 years old, he has already shown the talent and confidence to compete at the highest levels, raising expectations for his future performances on the world stage.

The details

Lutkenhaus's 800m time of 1:44.03 broke the previous under-20 world record held by Russian runner Yuriy Borzakovskiy, who set the mark in 2000. Prior to that, Lutkenhaus had also broken the indoor American record of 1:45.93 in the 800m, previously held by Donovan Brazier. His world-leading 600m time of 1:14.15 at the Millrose Games came just 14 days before his 800m record.

  • On January 24, Lutkenhaus set the U20 800m American record at the Dr. Sander Invitational meet, clocking 1:45.23.
  • On February 1, Lutkenhaus set the world lead of 1:14.15 in the 600m at the Millrose Games.
  • On February 11, Lutkenhaus broke the indoor 800m world record with a time of 1:44.03 at the ASICS Sound Running meet.

The players

Cooper Lutkenhaus

A 17-year-old middle-distance runner who has recently set multiple world records in the 800m and 600m events.

Yuriy Borzakovskiy

A Russian runner who previously held the indoor 800m world record that Lutkenhaus broke, having set the mark in 2000.

Donovan Brazier

An American runner who previously held the indoor 800m American record that Lutkenhaus broke.

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What they’re saying

“You can have all the talent in the world, but it you're not confident going into the race, it doesn't really matter that much. I go into every race thinking I can be up there and win it.”

— Cooper Lutkenhaus (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Lutkenhaus's record-breaking performances at just 17 years old have positioned him as a rising star in the 800m event, with the potential to become a global force in the sport in the coming years.