17-Year-Old, Undefeated Pro & World Champ: Cooper Lutkenhaus Is LetsRun’s Athlete of the Month
By LetsRun.comCooper Lutkenhaus is 17 years old.
He’s still a junior in high school in Texas.
But after running 1:44.24 to win the 800 meters at the World Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland last month, he’s now a world champion, the youngest in history, undefeated as a professional, and LetsRun.com’s “Where Your Dreams Become Reality” Athlete of the Month.
We sat down with Lutkenhaus for a wide-ranging interview on the LetsRun Track Talk podcast, where he discussed his rapid rise, his fearless mindset, his win at World Indoors, and what it’s been like returning to high school as a world champion.
Cooper Lutkenhaus wins World Indoor Gold (Christel Saneh for World Athletics)
“Just send it”
Cooper’s approach this year?
“Let’s just send it and see what happens.”
And despite racing and beating some of the best 800-meter runners in the world, Lutkenhaus says being a professional “doesn’t feel very different compared to high school running. The only difference is just who you’re racing.”
He’s still a high schooler, though. Lutkenhaus said he’s generally pretty frugal, though that didn’t stop him from briefly eyeing a $500,000 Mercedes before his parents shut that idea down.
In the interview, Lutkenhaus reveals his outdoor racing plans, including how long he expects his season to last, gives his thoughts on going to college, and even weighs in on where he intends to put the LetsRun.com flag he brought home from the World Cross Country Championships.
Cooper Lutkenhaus gets the LetsRun.com Flag at World Cross Country
The full conversation is now available for LetsRun.com Supporters Club members. .
Supporters Club members get bonus podcasts, exclusive interviews, a LetsRun shirt, and full access to all LetsRun.com content, plus a money-back guarantee and 50% off your first year with code GOAT50.
The full talk with Cooper be available to everyone next week, after the Boston Marathon.
As for what comes next, Lutkenhaus kept it simple:
“I just want to win as many races as I can.”
Previous LetsRun.com Runners of the Month: Ethan Shuley from 2:46 to 2:07 in the Marathon in 15 Months
