In June 2024, Renton Memorial Stadium, the Brooks PR Invitational became a record-breaking spectacle. Four track and field event meet records and three junior PRs fell, while a staggering 73 % of athletes recorded personal bests—including every competitor in both the girls’ 100 m hurdles and boys’ 110 m hurdles. In the boys’ two‑mile, Drew Griffith clocked 8:31.46, the second-fastest HS time in history. Also, Allie Zealand claimed a high school outdoor national two‑mile record—9:41.76—with Jane Hedengren placing second in top‑ten all‑time fashion. Freshman Cooper  Lutkenhaus smashed the U.S. freshman 800 m record with a time of 1:47.58, becoming the 7ᵗʰ fastest high‑schooler ever. Clock to 2025, the Brooks PR Invitational record, older than this century, has fallen.

20th century, year 1996. Michael Granville remembered his dad telling him that day, “I know you’re upset and whatever. But look at the flags. The wind is not blowing. This is the night to do it.” He had been running times of 1:48 and 1:49 that year, interfered by the wind. But the wind had died at Cerritos College that day. When the bullet cracked through the silence, Granville hit the bell in ~51 seconds and launched early into the final kick. That day, he recorded the U.S. high school national record in the 800 meters with a time of 1:46.45. A record that stood for 29 years. Until now…

Arcadia Invitational Meet Director Rich Gonzalez himself took to X to announce on June 8, 2025, that, “After standing for 29 years, Michael Granville’s national high school record in the 800 meters is no more. Texas prep sophomore phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus won the Brooks PR Meet today in a stunning 1:46.26 to shave 0.19 seconds off the previous record!“ Getting into the race, it was a stiff competition between

The commentator said, “This one wire-to-wire as we’re gearing up for the race to the finish line. Less than a hundred meters to go.Owen Powell, Sakaris, and Lutkenhaus looking over his shoulder because here comes Powell, but  Lutkenhaus is going to hold him off and take the win.” As he ran past the ribbon, their voices had a sense of pride in saying, “1.46.16, and that is a new high school record for Cooper  Lutkenhaus here in Seattle.” His performance not only broke the previous national record of Michael Granville in 1996 but also surpassed the meet record of 1:47.55 held by Donavan Brazier since 2015. 

Lutkenhaus is just 16 years old, and he has been phenomenal in the track and field scenario. He has been breaking records, winning races, and making a game for himself.

The rising track and field prodigy Cooper  Lutkenhaus

From the moment he first laced up his spikes in middle school, Cooper has been quick. At just 14, he quietly announced himself on the national stage by smashing the U.S. middle-school 800 m record with a 1:54.20 at the Brooks PR Invitational in spring 2023. As a freshman in 2023–24, he went undefeated across 12 high-school 800 m races, claimed the Texas Class 5A state title in 1:49.84, and clinched national victories at events like the Brooks PR Invitational and Nike Outdoor Nationals.

In his sophomore season, Cooper turned heads again. In January 2025, at the Texas Tech Invite, he became the fastest high‑school sophomore ever indoors with 1:50.15. One month later, at the storied Millrose Games, he broke the U.S. indoor high‑school 800 m record with an astonishing 1:46.86 against elite pros. That spring, he claimed the Texas 6A state 800 m title in 1:47.04 and took silver in the 400 m (46.30), earning him the prestigious COROS MileSplit50 Indoor Athlete of the Year award in March 2025.