‘Most impressive athletic feat ever': 16-year-old Texan sets world record in 800 meters
Cooper Lutkenhaus, an incoming junior at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, was so impressive in setting an age-group world record at the U.S. Track & Field Championships on Sunday that a respected distance running coach and author declared it was 'the most impressive athletic feat in history.'
In a social media post, Steve Magness, who wrote 'The Science of Running,' said Lutkenhaus' performance that included passing three of the nation's fastest men in an electrifying stretch run 'makes high school LeBron look like nobody.
'Cooper Lutkenhaus, take a bow.'
Current Lakers star LeBron James, of course, was a prodigy on the basketball court at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, and went straight to the NBA upon graduating in 2003.
Lutkenhaus, 16, won't be in school for long, either. He will become the youngest American to compete in the World Athletics Championships when he travels to Tokyo on Sept. 13-21. This time he'll have no age-group restriction, not after posting the fourth-best time in U.S. history (1:42.27) and nearly catching 800-meter champion Donavan Brazier (1:42.16).
In the waning seconds, Lutkenhaus turned on the jets, going from seventh to second place while passing reigning indoor 800 meter world champion Josh Hoey as well as Olympians Brandon Miller and Bryce Hoppel, all of whom were clustered with Brazier at the front.
Lutkenhaus' time was the fastest ever for a runner under 18.
'I saw someone coming up and I was like, 'Dang, this could be the high schooler,' ' Brazier told reporters. 'This kid's phenomenal. I'm glad that I'm 28 and maybe have a few more years left in me, hopefully won't have to deal with him in his prime because that dude is definitely special.'
Does wunderkind describe Lutkenhaus? He's only been running track for three years, and he said his strategy of accelerating over the last quarter of the race was crafted in middle school.
'I've always kind of had a natural spot with 200 [meters] to go,' Lutkenhaus told reporters. 'Ever since middle school that's kind of been the spot I've really pushed from. Kind of just decided to go back to middle school tactics with 200 to go and really just give everything I had left.'
Less surprising was a late surge by Noah Lyles in the 200 meters that enabled him to pass Kenny Bednarek en route to a world-leading time of 19.63. Lyles might have challenged his personal best American record of 19.31, but as he passed Bednarek with five meters remaining he turned his head and stared down his competitor.
Bednarek retaliated, giving Lyles a shove before they shook hands. Afterward, Bednarek shrugged and chalked up the incident to 'Noah is gonna be Noah.'
'If he wants to stare me down, that's fine,' Bednarek said. 'I'm very confident I can beat him. What he said doesn't matter. It's just what he did. It's unsportsmanlike [crap] and I don't deal with that.'
More drama occurred before championships when Sha'Carri Richardson was arrested and charged with fourth-degree domestic violence a week ago at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to a police report.
The reigning 100-meter world champion was charged with assaulting her boyfriend, sprinter Christian Coleman, as the couple were going through security. A police officer reviewed camera footage and observed Richardson grab Coleman's backpack and yank it away, the report said.
Coleman tried to step around Richardson and she pushed him into a wall. Later she appeared to throw headphones at him.
In the report, however, the officer indicated that Colemen 'did not want to participate any further in the investigation and declined to be a victim.'
Coleman defended Richardson when asked about the incident at the championships.
'She just has a lot of things going on, a lot of emotions and forces going on inside of her that not only I can't understand, but nobody can,' he said. 'Because she's one of one.… I know that it's been a tough journey for her this year. But she's going to bounce back.
'Like I said, I see it every day. She's the best female athlete in the world, and she's going to be just fine. She's going to be good. I'm going to be good, too.'
Once the racing took place, attention turned to Lutkenhaus. His time bettered the the U18 world record — set by Timothy Kitum of Kenya at the 2012 London Olympics — by 1.1 seconds.
'It is the most mind blowing HS performance in history,' Magness wrote on X. 'Any high school phenom in history you can think of? This kid is better. I never thought we'd supplant Jim Ryun as the HS runner GOAT, but a sophomore in HS just did.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Inside Luka Dončić's U.S. tour: From Lakers extension to a surprise Backstreet Boys concert
LOS ANGELES — The sun had set on Sunday night and a very tired Luka Dončić was thinking about getting on a plane and flying home. Eight days earlier, he'd flown from Slovenia to New York City for a three-city U.S. tour that ended here, on an L.A. rooftop in the city where he just committed to spend his prime. That part, the timing of this all, was a bit of a happy accident. The New York-to-Chicago-to-Los Angeles tour actually had been scheduled before the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Advertisement So Sunday night, here he was, on the last stop on the tour, judging a dunk contest and watching one-on-one battles as part of 'The One,' Jordan Brand's global tournament. After a week full of interviews, appearances and commercial shoots, this was all that was standing between him and the peacefulness of a 13-hour flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia. 'Exhausted,' he said of his current state. But then he heard it — one of the players, Kaiden Bailey, scream 'He can't f—ing guard me' to the crowd and his opponent after a bucket — and a jolt of energy shot through Dončić. A diabolical grin parked on his face as the fans erupted. Dončić, more than anyone on that rooftop, could relate. It was another moment that solidified that Dončić was right where he was supposed to be — with a new team in a new city with a new opportunity. He formalized all of that Saturday, signing a three-year contract extension with the Lakers on the first day they were able to offer it to him. He signed that deal, presented to him in custom purple-and-black folders with his name and the Lakers' logo in opposite corners, with a phrase his management team had chosen on a video screen behind him — 'The Beginning.' Messaging, as much as anything, was a goal for Dončić over the past week. His reputation was bruised after Dallas traded him to Los Angeles in February. His professional footing had been totally undone, plans of someday retiring with the Mavericks voided with a single phone call. After the Lakers were eliminated in the first round against Minnesota, Dončić said he was 'mentally kind of exhausted from everything that happened.' But that wasn't the version of him that returned to the U.S. for this tour. Lara Beth Seager, Dončić's manager, said he's no longer carrying any baggage from his exit from Dallas. Advertisement 'He's moved on,' she told The Athletic. Dončić underwent a physical transformation this offseason, fasting 16 hours a day and adhering to strict to diet and workout plans. He detailed the plans in a cover story for Men's Health Magazine that served as the tone-setter for his trip. He spoke about the changes during a New York Yankees broadcast and in an appearance on 'The Today Show.' While in New York, Dončić and his team dined at Cecconi's and The Corner Store. He also taped an episode of 'Hot Ones' and visited the Statue of Liberty for the first time. At the Yankees game, Dončić met with new Lakers owner Mark Walter for the first time. Dončić also surprised league employees by visiting the NBA's New York headquarters. After a quick stop in Chicago, Dončić was on to Los Angeles with the Lakers' extension offer waiting for him — with little drama ever looming about the Lakers' ability to get him to commit. 'I think it was always known that, when Luka was traded here, it's, 'He's here now,'' Seager said. 'He wants to win where he is, and it's important that he wins and that we're working together with the team so we're not waiting. His mindset has never been to hop around. His mindset is to win championship. 'His mindset is to build where he is and to work together. And as long as he's signed with a team, it's a marriage and you treat it like a marriage. And marriages have hard times and good times, but you're loyal and you're faithful to each other through it all. And that's just who Luka is. I don't think he ever thought. 'I'm not signing my extension.'' Saturday, Dončić arrived at the team's facility before 7 a.m, for a workout prior to signing the extension. Unaware that Seager and the Lakers had planned a surprise trip to Las Vegas later that night to see the Backstreet Boys at The Sphere, Dončić blared the boy band's music throughout the Lakers' facility — another sign that the organization and its star were, um, in sync. Advertisement After the workout, he met with members of his team before officially signing the deal. Dončić announced the transaction himself on his social media accounts while pledging $5 million in grants (and mentorship) to 77 young athletes in need. When the Lakers opened their doors for the celebratory news conference a few hours later, reporters were met by a custom-built photo wall with moments from Dončić's draft night, national team and brief time with the Lakers. Photo display inside the facility for Luka's extension presser — Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) August 2, 2025 He continued his work to connect with the Lakers' fan base. Dončić had previously donated money toward wildfire relief and to restore a Kobe Bryant mural. Saturday, he deliberately opened his news conference by addressing Lakers fans in Spanish. 'And that's it,' he joked. 'No English.' After the news conference, Dončić found out about the plans to attend the Backstreet Boys concert and that he'd be joined by not just his family and friends, but by teammates and members of the organization including Jeanie Buss and Walter. Buss, who usually prefers a low profile at press conferences, sat in the back of the media seats to watch Dončić and general manager Rob Pelinka answer questions about the deal. She later joined Dončić in Las Vegas with Walter, head coach JJ Reddick and a number of teammates to celebrate his new beginning. 'He's only looking forward. And he's here. He wants to get the best players here. He wants to win, and he knows it starts with him,' Seager said. 'And I think that's what he proved this offseason. 'OK, everyone wants to say or people think that they know me or I'm not a leader or I'm this way, or I'm that way, I don't care. They can think and say whatever they want. Advertisement 'I'm gonna show them who I am.'' And whether it was meeting privately with Walter in New York or with morning TV viewers on 'The Today Show,' whether it was signing sneakers at the NBA Store, hitting trick shots at Dyckman Park in Manhattan or grinning at the trash talk in Los Angeles, Dončić was more like himself than he was when he last was in the states. Since the Lakers were eliminated, Dončić has deprived himself, trimming his diet of more than sugary foods. He's also refrained from any real live basketball. Late Sunday, he boarded a plane to join the Slovenian national basketball team as they begin a tune-up schedule ahead of the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket championships which begin later this month. The first scrimmage he has with the team will be his first live five-on-five action since the Lakers were bounced. 'I miss basketball,' he told Seager on their way to dinner at Carbone in Las Vegas. From the grin he had on his face Sunday on that roof, a smile that fought through all the fatigue from the jam-packed promotional tour and an impromptu Vegas celebration, it was obvious that he can't wait to get back on the court. And for the next three years — and maybe more — the court that he'll call home will be in Los Angeles with the Lakers.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
"Bronny James should've been there" - Dan Patrick criticizes Bronny James for not attending Luka Doncic's press conference
"Bronny James should've been there" - Dan Patrick criticizes Bronny James for not attending Luka Doncic's press conference originally appeared on Basketball Network. LeBron James' absence during Luka Doncic's contract extension press conference raised some eyebrows because a handful of the Lakers were there to throw in their support for Doncic. Veteran podcaster Dan Patrick said that LeBron's on vacation and he face-timed Luka, so given his stature, his absence was excusable. However, while Patrick had no question with LeBron's absence, he was critical about his son Bronny's no-show during an event where most of the Lakers were present. "The one person who I thought should've been there was his son. Bronny James, if he wants to stay longer after LeBron leaves, that's your teammate. That's what was surprising. Bronny James should've been there. You're the last guy on the roster. You should be there," said Patrick. Most players on the Lakers showed up to show support Luka Doncic signed a three-year $165 million contract extension with the Lakers this past weekend, and after he did, eight of his teammates plus head coach JJ Redick posed with him as he held his Lakers No. 77 jersey after his press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center where the Lakers practice. And then, when new team owner Mark Walter flew Luka to Las Vegas afterwards to watch the Backstreet Boys at The Sphere, six of them tagged along and enjoyed the night with their franchise player. Although it was not an official team activity, it was a good opportunity to build chemistry and camaraderie. "It just felt like 'Hey, my dad's LeBron. We got a vacation.' I mean, that's where you say, 'Dad, that's my team. That's my teammate.' I know it's not a big deal, but with LeBron, it's always a big deal. Everything becomes a bigger deal because he was not there. Bronny should've been there. 'Dad, I'm gonna cut short this vacation. I need to be there. I think it's really important.' If that's my son and he said that, I'd be like, 'Alright, son, you're right. You should be there.' But if LeBron face-timed Luka, Luka's fine with that, I don't think there's no acrimony there. But I think it's awkward," Patrick concluded. It's a big deal because he's LeBron's son LeBron face-timing Luka to congratulate him isn't as awkward as Patrick thinks. The guy is on vacation, and that's the best thing he could have done because he's obviously not in Los Angeles. But Bronny being with his dad rather than his teammates is certainly perplexing because, as Dan said, if he wants to remain a Laker when his dad retires, he needs to be one of the guys. To Bronny's credit, however, his draft batchmate Dalton Knecht wasn't there either. Likewise, Austin Reaves was also conspicuously absent, although it was already previously announced that he was going on a four-country, five-city Asian Tour for his shoe sponsor Rigorer from August 2-13, 2025. That sounds excusable, too. But Bronny golfing with his dad? DP doesn't think so. To give LeBon Jr. the benefit of the doubt, let's say that the "James Gang" already planned their vacation in advance. And who would not approve of a wholesome father and son bonding moment like that, where they were playing golf together? However, as a member of a team, Bronny has responsibilities. If players as high-profile as Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Rui Hachimura were there, the same should be expected from a roster filler like story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Lakers jersey history No. 2 — Aaron McKie
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. Here's a look at Aaron McKie, a guard who briefly played for the Lakers during the mid-2000s. McKie starred at Temple University and was a first-round draft pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1994. Midway through the 1997-98 season, the Detroit Pistons traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers, his hometown team. There, he became a key part of that memorable 2001 squad that lost to the Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals. McKie averaged 11.6 points, 5.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game and was named the Sixth Man of the Year that season. The Lakers then signed him as a free agent in the summer of 2005. He played 24 games for them over the next two years and averaged 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.5 minutes a game during that time. Ultimately, McKie's only real contribution to the team was as salary ballast in the Pau Gasol trade in 2008. He wasn't on the team's roster that season, but then-executive Mitch Kupchak was able to convince him to sign a contract solely to facilitate the trade and make the numbers work. He spent the next few years as an assistant coach with the Sixers before serving as an assistant at Temple University. He is now a special advisor to the athletics department at that school.
