EUGENE, OREGON, June 19–22 — Just when it appeared that a deluge would wipe out any chances of great performances, the annual Nike Outdoor meet yielded a number of spectacular events.
The first came in the 800 from Cooper Lutkenhaus, the Northwest (Justin, Texas) soph who two weeks earlier had lowered the High School Record in his specialty event.
Running in a cold rainstorm here, Lutkenhaus passed the 400 in 52.20, a few meters back of the quick 51.70 pace set by Bryson Nielsen (Eastmark, Mesa, Arizona). Just past the 500, the Texan took off, chasing the wavelights that were set for 1:46. It was no contest.
Displaying no signs of strain, he powered around the curve and splashed down the straight, completing his second lap in 53.25 to finish in 1:45.45, nearly 0.8 better than his previous record — and faster than the NCAA-winning time (in decent weather) a week earlier. Second was Bodey Lutes (Marshfield, Coos Bay, Oregon) in a big PR 1:47.74.
Afterwards, Lutkenhaus reflected on his achievement. “I knew where I was at [compared to the record] with about 200 to go. But in the last 100, I just gave it all I had. It wasn’t even about the time; it was just about winning the race against the great field.
“The conditions weren’t ideal to go after the record, but still being able to run faster really shows the hard work that’s been put in over the past few months with Coach [Chris] Capeau. He’s done a lot for me in getting to where I am right now,” said Lutkenhaus. “A big goal of mine was to see if I could get the USATF qualifying mark [1:45.50]. In my mind, if I could do that, that would show me I’ve had a great season. The plan now is to go to USAs in July, and just see what I can do.”
Among the other highlights:
• The anticipated showdown between three of the top six names on the all-time 100 list went to new recordman Tate Taylor (Harlan, San Antonio, Texas), a tall, bespectacled junior, in 10.10 (0.0), on a soaked track in a drizzle. Taylor finished an eyelash ahead of Maurice Gleaton (Hughes, Fairburn, Georgia) in 10.11, with Brayden Williams (Duncanville, Texas) 3rd in 10.17.
• Junior Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque, Epworth, Iowa) scored a fast mile victory in 4:00.52, leading 11 under 4:07.
• Double distance winner Corbin Coombs (Organ Mountain, Las Cruces, New Mexico) cranked out an 8:03.58 for 3000 after an earlier 14:04.49 in the 5000.
• Jayden Horton-Mims (Home, New Jersey) produced a 20.76/45.58 double in difficult conditions.
NIKE BOYS RESULTS
100(0.0): 1. *Tate Taylor (San Antonio) 10.10; 2. Maurice Gleaton (Quicksilver TC) 10.11; 3. Brayden Williams (AP Ranch) 10.17.
200(0.8): 1. Jayden Horton-Mims (Nike Elite) 20.76.
400: 1. Horton-Mims 45.58; 2. Keayari Thompson (Atlanta) 46.42; 3. Valin Wittenburg (NM Elite) 46.65.
800: 1. **Cooper Lutkenhaus (Northwest, Justin, Texas/Nike Elite) 1:45.45 HSR (old HSR 1:46.26 Lutkenhaus ’25) (5, 6 AJ) (52.20/53.25);
2. Bodey Lutes (Marshfield TC) 1:47.74; 3. **Joshua Cooper (Raleigh) 1:49.32.
Mile: 1. *Quentin Nauman (Peosta, IA) 4:00.52 (3:44.40); 2. Evan Noonan (Nike Elite) 4:00.53; 3. Corbin Coombs (Nike Elite) 4:03.86; 4. Juan Gonzalez (Fremont TC) 4:05.08.
3000: 1. Corbin Coombs (Nike Elite) 8:03.58; 2. *Paul Van Laningham (Cooper TC) 8:04.89; 3. Charlie Vause (Nike Elite) 8:07.66.
5000: 1. Coombs 14:04.49; 2. *Ethan Locke (Eddy, Tx) 14:05.06.
2000St: 1. *Aidan Wendring (Panther Elite) 5:56.54; 2. *Griffin Hummel (Bowie Running) 5:59.87.
110H(-0.1): 1. Ja’Shaun Lloyd (AP Ranch) 13.28; 2. Le’ezra Brown (Nike Elite) 13.34.
400H: 1. * Andrew Jones (The Texas Collective) 50.66; 2. Ewan Curtis (NTX Warriors) 50.81.
10,000W: 1. *Joshua Rothery (I 270 TC) 57:03.79; 2. *Gavin Littrell (Mondo TC) 1:07:27.98.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Etoro Bassey (Katy, TX) 7-4¼; 2. *Micah Lockett (Nacogdoches, TX) 7-2¼; 3. Jordan Randall (Warsaw, Il) 7-¼.
PV: 1. Chase McGee (Milltown Project) 16-10; 2. Khaliq Muhammad (Mission Valley TC) 16-10.
LJ: 1. *Miles Nesmith (Memphis Youth TC) 24-3½.
TJ: 1. *Yevhen Zhmailo (GLS Speed) 52-¾; 2. Nesmith 51-2¼; 3. Camren Smith (Lancaster, Ca) 50-½.
SP: 1. *Jackson Cantwell (Nike Elite) 71-8; 2. McKay Madsen (Stampede TC) 68-11¾; 3. Paul Hoekman (Sioux Falls) 68-2¼.
DT: 1. Ashton Hearn (Germantown, Tn) 206-1; 2. *Simon Rosselli (Iron Wood TC) 203-11; 3. Jason Atwood (Tallahassee) 203-8; 4. Madsen 199-2.
HT: 1. Zane Commins (Golden State Throwers) 197-0.
JT: 1. *Bryson Jacobs (Drexel, Mo) 220-3; 2. *Nolan Carey (Corry, Pa) 220-2.
Dec: 1. Miles Lipka (Algonquin Regional) 7218.
