US Star Lutkenhaus Skips School and Semi-Final Opportunity
The young Texan runner likely has an unbeatable reasons for missing school of any high school 11th grader could ask for, considering he spent in Japan over the last fortnight preparing to compete for the United States squad at the World Athletics Championship.
But the teenager's goal of making the 800m championship race ended in the initial round on Tuesday when he could only finish seventh in the intense heat of Tokyo.
“It was definitely tough,” the young runner stated post-race. “Some days just don’t go your way. You might stumble now and then, but you come back. And I'm optimistic for what lies ahead.”
Lutkenhaus’s personal best of one minute and 42.27 seconds ranks him as the 22nd quickest man – although he is only 16 – in the record books over 800m. So notable was his reputation that Kenyan world record holder David Rudisha, present in the stadium, mentioned he couldn't wait to watching the American runner race.
The teenager, the most junior American ever to compete at the international event after finishing runner-up in the American championships, was self-assured after running better than ever in training. But he was incapable to showcase his top when it mattered.
He spent the majority of the race in the inside lanes, and when he tried his sprint finish with 150 metres to go, he did not have enough left in the tank. He finished in one minute 47.68 seconds in a race taken by Poland’s Maciej Wyderka.
“Well, the kick was missing like usual,” the athlete noted. “Still, you keep pushing forward, live and learn. But I'm walking out of the stadium proudly, just because facing the best guys on the planet is thrilling.”
“I have no any disappointments from that race,” he concluded. “You’re gonna have off days from time to time.”
