Puskedra Running 10K at USAs - Is RUPPs AJR in Threat???

FYI, my answer is yes he can get it.

One more note, looks like Centro scratched from USA so his injury must be fairly serious.

no

No, Luke will not break Galen's record. No. It will not occur.

25 Loooong Laps wrote:

Any chance he'll crack Galens mark if conditions are good in Eugene?

Yes.

Picayune wrote:

No, Luke will not break Galen's record. No. It will not occur.

Thoughts? Reasons? Just gut feeling? Personally I thought Lukes freshman cross season was as good as Galens 1st ncaa cross season which happened to be AFTER his freshman track season and his 28:15 AJR. Granted Galen may be a better track runner in comparison to Luke, but a first 10K in 28:30 is legit for an 18 year old. The 10K at USA's will be perfect conditions with plenty of guys to tow behind.

I say 28:11.

I don't think the pacing will be to his advantage

Grout wrote:

I don't think the pacing will be to his advantage

Too fast or two slow? Or just all over the place?

I almost wonder if guys won't pull a bit of an NCAA 5K here with Rupp and just kind of go into a bit of a panic knowing that he can probably run away off the front, but also that he can sit in the middle and burn everyone at the end.

I'm sure Abdi doesn't want to lead for 23.5 laps and I don't think anyone can help him at a pace needed to sting Rupp so I just wonder if it doddles for 7-8K. Abdi can outkick everyone in that field outside of Rupp so maybe he just waits as well.

Regarding Puskedra, even if it does go fast there will be plenty of guys falling off that he can utilize if he's aware of pace. Remember that the chase pack at the trials last year just barely snuck under 28:00, and that was the chase pack.

Abdi ran fast at the Trials last year and Ritz needs the "A" standard: look for them to work together. Also, the weather promises to be good. I can't imagine they will go out slower than 13:50. As for Puskedra, it has been a long year--X-C, World Jrs., outdoor track--and I don't expect him to run under 28:45.

Yes, he was in form back in April. Me thinks he'll be closer to 29:14 than 28:14. Talented runner though.

did you see him run at ncaa's?

no way he's breaking the ajr

AW Fan wrote:

did you see him run at ncaa's?

no way he's breaking the ajr

From the TV coverage it was hard to know where he was at NCAA's. Know idea how the pacing went, only that it was hot and humid and he put himself up in it but fell apart on the last lap. People have bad races, and they bounce back. I'd be surprised if Lananna was putting in here to get killed. His training must be OK or good as of late.

All that said, if he has to go out at 13:55 at the half it could be a long and painful ride in. If the group, or a group comes through in 14:10 range, he might have a shot.

Based on what we saw at the Olympic Trials 10k, Puskedra should have people to run with.

He raced a 10K at Pac-10s, another 10K at NCAAs, and now a third at USAs? That's three hard 10Ks in what, 5 or 6 weeks? Tall order for a freshman. At Pac-10s he was 10 seconds off Derrick, and I don't see Derrick as being in shape to run 28:04 so I'm going with no. My logic may be faulty but there it is.

If the pace is quick and he is healthy, he'll get it. He's got to drop 16 seconds. That's not much. If it's a low to mid 28 for the win, then no chance.

TK1451 wrote:

He raced a 10K at Pac-10s, another 10K at NCAAs, and now a third at USAs? That's three hard 10Ks in what, 5 or 6 weeks? Tall order for a freshman. At Pac-10s he was 10 seconds off Derrick, and I don't see Derrick as being in shape to run 28:04 so I'm going with no. My logic may be faulty but there it is.

Rupp's PR was 13:37 when he ran 28:15, and his fastest 5K the year he set the 28:15 mark was about 13:50. Who knows.

i hope he gets it but he has raced a good amount in the past 6 months and he is probably a bit tired. i say no

jussa thought wrote:

From the TV coverage it was hard to know where he was at NCAA's. Know idea how the pacing went, only that it was hot and humid and he put himself up in it but fell apart on the last lap. People have bad races, and they bounce back. I'd be surprised if Lananna was putting in here to get killed. His training must be OK or good as of late.

All that said, if he has to go out at 13:55 at the half it could be a long and painful ride in. If the group, or a group comes through in 14:10 range, he might have a shot.

I was there, and Puskedra and Smyth (Judge Memorial HS teammates) traded off pacing the chase group for probably 9k of the 10k. The laps Puskedra led looked like they were a tad slower than the ones Smyth led, which would make sense because Puskedra faded at the end and Smyth ran 59.

I think that Haile guy will break it.

Selassie? Not a chance. He peaked a long time ago and has been getting slower and slower.

blink wrote:

I think that Haile guy will break it.