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

I'm wondering if he either over trained somewhere along the line, or if he has gotten taller since his Sr. HS year...

Should have gone to Oklahoma State.

How did he do in head to head competition vs. German this past cross season?

German has improved this year? in what event?

chris and german have not improved this year? If so..when?

german has not raced in 2010, he got the shit kicked out of him at NCAA XC champs last year. Derrick has not improved time wise but he has proved he can beat almost anyone not named Mcneil or Chelanga

So tired of LAZY posters commenting without actually looking up the information to support something they disagree with:

German Fernandez

3000m

2010............7:51.02o

2009............7:57.71

debut on oversized indoor track almost 7 secs faster than previously indoor best

Chris Derrick

NCAA

2008 Freshman year.....7th

which led up to his 2009 indoor/outdoor season

2009 Sophmore year.....3rd

which leds up to this year 2010.

Also completed first 29:10.80/13:43.68 double at 2010 Pac-10

next time look up the information and by the way the MAIN topic is Luke Puskedra!

German ran 7:47 as a freshman, not 7:57.

Don't count out Luke though. Ryan Hall also had issues under Vin. He's done ok for himself.

Too tired to analyze all of your stats. What's your point? That German is better than Derrick? Also, what do you think about both of them relative to Chelanga? Do you think Bolt is clean? How about Wariner?

It maybe that he is having psychological difficulties as the other Oregon athletes seems to be thriving. Haven't heard of any recent injuries of Luke and its not uncommon for some young athletes to fall into a slump mentally after several years of previous success.

VIPAM wrote: So tired of LAZY posters commenting without actually looking up the information to support something they disagree with...

So amused by you being RUDE before posting incorrect information.

MindGames wrote:

It maybe that he is having psychological difficulties as the other Oregon athletes seems to be thriving. Haven't heard of any recent injuries of Luke and its not uncommon for some young athletes to fall into a slump mentally after several years of previous success.

No, he's grown, gotten taller, and now his large johnson is weighing him down.

wronger,

which poster are you Jefferson, RUKidding, or way053 or maybe all three of them? Yes I was wrong about German Fernandez 2009 3000m pb and I can admit it; however, I've never seen so many NEW poster names popping all over the place and many on the same thread.

Why do posters keep changing names? Pick a poster name and stick with it, please!?

Luke Puskedra is very talented and I hope he does get things together but as of right now he is definitely struggling! Chris Derrick hasn't improved time wise yet but look for big drops in his 1500m and 5000m pb and especially his 10000m if he runs it at NCAA.

How about Colby Lowe anyone? He was only .01 seconds behind Puskedra at NON 2-mile and actually beat him at FLNats...

...and he's kicking Puskedra's butt now in college

Luke should be running 13:20 low and 28:15 or faster and yet he is moving in the wrong way. Luke has the talent. Wouldn't be surprised is Chris Derrick runs 27:55 this year in the 10000m and the talented Luke maybe 28:40.

I agree and think it would be awesome to see Sam Chelanga, David McNeil, and Chris Derrick go at it in the 10000m. Would Chelanga try and run away solo and what do you think David McNeil is capable of for 10000m this year? I think its possible for Chris to run 27:50-28:05 for 10000m this year. I hope your wrong about Puskedra and he begins returning to form for outdoor NCAA and hits at least 28:20.

he doesn't have a kick and races like he does

That's part of his problem is that his kick isn't going to win any close races and yet he runs like he can kick with anyone. I remember in 2009 USA Jr X-Country he ran pretty well with German and Chris until middle in the race when their superior speed allowed them to increase speed and Luke just maintained his current gait.

2009 Junior X-Cross Men

Results

Place Num Name Ag Hometown Affiliation Time

===== ===== ===================== == ================== =============================== =======

1 25 German Fernandez 18 Stillwater OK Oklahoma State University 23:20

2 303 Christopher Derrick 18 Naperville IL Stanford University 23:39

3 495 Luke Puskedra 18 Eugene OR University of Oregon 23:53

4 257 Ryan Hill 19 Hickory NC North Carolina State University 24:35

5 308 Patrick Dupont 18 Fairport NY Syracuse University 24:39

6 309 Francisco Medrano 18 Lafayette IN Syracuse University 24:42

7 497 Joey Bywater 19 Seattle WA University of Washington 24:50

8 262 Ryan Prentice 18 Normandy Park WA Oklahoma State University 24:55

9 359 Eric Fernandez 18 Ballwin MO unattached 24:55

10 370 Griffith Graves 18 Abingdon VA unattached 24:55

Does anyone know if Vin tells him not to force the pace from the start because that seems like his best chance to improve his times and placing since he lacks a great kick?

Don't know what you consider having a good kick but he closed the last 200m in sub 30 secs of a very fast 3200m (8:49) to outkick Colby Lowe. He isn't a blazing kicker but Luke Puskedra has a good kick or did in high school:

video of his sub 8:50 with sub 30 sec last 200m

http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=1841