LUKE PUSKEDRA is so talented, so what's the problem?

Thanks for the video very exciting but outkicking Colby Lowe and running the last 200m in 28 or 29 secs doesn't mean he is even a decent kicker. He was simply stronger than Lowe and he did pick up the pace but to me that's hardly a kick!

Stop sugar coating it Luke Puskdra was one of the best ever in high school. Your in all-time elite company when you run sub 8:50 3200m indoors in high school as only a handful have accomplished that feat. There is no way Luke Puskedra should be placing 5th in 10000m at any conference meet and not scoring at all in the 5000m. THAT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE from someone of Luke Puskedra's cailber and talent!

Remember around this time last year when Puskedra got stitches for an "alcohol related incident". I have no way of knowing if that was just an isolated incident or a sign of a problem but it could explain things if the later is the case.

I don't remember that incident and can't find anything related to his accident. Could someone share some light on what happened and the timeframe, maybe there is something related to his subpar performances.

This was last year and it wouldn't be from that incident because if I recall he ran the next week and was fine. Question is does it reflect on something more or just a typical college kid doing something stupid once in awhile.

AJ bought Luke booze at a bar since he was underage. AJ left and Luke got hurt or some shit and some Oregon softball or soccer ladies took him to the hospital and blabbed to a trainer who in turn told Vin. Vin suspended AJ, who was redshirting anyway. AJ went apeshit & mouthed off to an ex teammate who wrote for a local paper who wrote in turn wrote an article about. AJ ripped Vin to Metcalfe at USAs last year & to others. Now everything has passed. Thats about it.

Thanks but that is so wierd. So what was his injury and if it was serious enough to curtail his performance a year later why wasn't someone kicked off the team?

Going from running 28:34.17 10000m debut freshman year

http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234954/173811

to where he is now would have had to been a serious injury!

Admittedly I know next to nothing about what abilities it takes to be good at the steeplechase. But it seems like Puskedra would be a good fit for that event. At least as much or more than Acosta. Am I wrong?

I guess its just the combination of being tall and lanky. Also, he gives off the aura of kind of being bored with long races. Maybe the action of hurdling barriers and a shorter race fits his mindset more.

[quote]VIPAM wrote:

http://www.squidoo.com/luke_puskedra

He was awesome in high school posting 8:41 for 3200m and competing well at the mile distance. I'm sure Luke had big expectation as long as many track fans once he hit college. After a fairly nice Freshman campaign which including representing the U.S. at World Jr. things seem to fall apart for Luke.

He's Sophmore season isn't nearly as good as his Freshman year and while others like Chris Derrick, A.J., and German continue to improve Puskedra seems to be on the decline. A.J. ranked up 19pts in 3 events and Luke Puskedra only managed 5pts at the PAC-10 in which he only scored in the 10000m and failed to ANYTHING in the 5000m.

WHAT world do you live in? Where the hell has A.J. been the last COUPLE YEARS! GERMAN KEEPS IMPROVING! HE DOES NOT EVEN RUN! This XC YEAR HE WAS LIKE what 70th!???!!! OH you are right cause last XC HE FELL DOWN DNF...so yea improved. IS HE improving indoor track or outdoor track? Where is he? A.J. ran what 4:03 for the full mile in H.S.....he should be up there with Chelenga. What Derrick run the 10000 in...29:10? and 13:43. Wow amazing. Alot of these guys are having some setbacks...nothing fatal just keep ya down for months. JUST LIKE SOLINSKY HAS HAD FOR A FEW YEARS....then bam it comes together. LUKE will come on when he damn well wants to. He is a great dedicated guy on all fronts. I just hope the 9th year A.J. and Centro will give Luke some help next year in CC. Get healthy LUKE many of us can wait till it comes together for you. Good luck!

ximwq34 wrote:

AJ bought Luke booze at a bar since he was underage. AJ left and Luke got hurt or some shit and some Oregon softball or soccer ladies took him to the hospital and blabbed to a trainer who in turn told Vin. Vin suspended AJ, who was redshirting anyway. AJ went apeshit & mouthed off to an ex teammate who wrote for a local paper who wrote in turn wrote an article about. AJ ripped Vin to Metcalfe at USAs last year & to others. Now everything has passed. Thats about it.

And AJ now knows he was in the wrong, and has made amends, started growing up, buckled down and is starting to show the results of focus and consistency.

Luke is just one of those guys with great potential and high expectations coming out of high-school, but just never had the stuff to become something special in post-secondary running. It happens, and it looks like we may have seen the best of him!

The sad part is he will look back one day when he is much older and no longer a competitive runner and wonder what could have been? Probably never get over it as well...

he does not have rupp to train with anymore thats the problem...

I actually thought this as well. Going from a guy with no expectations, where he can just latch on to someone else and not think, to being a top dog, can take a year to get used

to.

Time will tell what happens.

also he did run a pr in the 5 yesterday...or close to it..remember that luke has average leg speed....you know i think that he would be really good in half or a full marathon...they should add one of the two in the ncaa champ

Very funny post, Vipam. I'm sure you intentionally misquoted German's 3k PR just to be funny, right?

i'm serious check it out...i dont think he has ever broken 14...

correction outdoor PR...

Someone said his subpar performance this year was due to an injury last year; however, I don't think so since he's been racing x-Country, indoors, and now outdoors. If had an injury Vin wouldn't let him continue to train much less race. So I don't know whats the culprit is but it isn't an injury.

Someone mentioned he would do better in 1/2 marathon or marathon if it was in NCAA. I haven't seen him force the pace in any NCAA Championship race; therefore, longer distance wouldn't help him. He would just tuck in the pack until someone decided to pick up the pace and drop him. Not being hard on him but just the facts so far!

perhaps... but some collegiate runners could be better at longer distances..dont you agree...??i.e like chalenga