Luke Puskedra 1:01:36 Half Mararthon Debut

wejo wrote:

Anyone know the fastest halfs by a collegian?

Sammy Wanjiru ran pretty fast at college age.

crazy person wrote:

Sammy Wanjiru ran pretty fast at college age.

Good point. Fiyesa Lilesa who ran n 59:22 has run 2:05 and is officially only 7 days older than Luke.

Interview with Luke here with results:

i cant think of anyone in the NCAA running a better time while in college, very few top collegiate runners run one in college though.

i looked at the track and field news all time top 10 list and keith brantly is #10 at 61:30

so bauhs is tied for #10 on US all time list.

i think pudeskra after today is #11 on US all time list just ahead of malmo who ran 61:43

wejo wrote:

crazy person wrote:

Sammy Wanjiru ran pretty fast at college age.

Good point. Fiyesa Lilesa who ran n 59:22 has run 2:05 and is officially only 7 days older than Luke.

Interview with Luke here with results:

http://www.letsrun.com/2012/puskedra-half-0115.php

I was being a smartass to illustrate a point, but it's good to see a collegiate taking a stab at something about the 10k. Runners can only make so much money in the track events, but the roads are where the dough is. If anything, Luke just really enhanced his opportunities for a pro contract once he is out of college.

Interesting that he said most of that 110-115 for this event was done in singles, with lots of focus on longer, continuous, up-tempo training with plenty of slower (slow for him) rest days thrown in between. Great debut. I would love to see this guy have success at the marathon, but as he himself said, it's a "different beast."

With few exceptions, bigger, taller guys generally don't run excetional marathon times. 6'3"+ Ely Rono once ran a sub-2:11, but I can't think of anyone 6'4" and above running even near a world class time. Admittedly, there are very few elite 6'4" distance runners to begin with, so maybe Puskedra will prove the exception here.

Just ran into Scott Bauhs on the street. Talked to him about the race:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW5ily4EG5Q

He said the 10k team will be tough to make with Ritz in the mix.

Also he had praise for Puskedra and said he sees himself running with anyone in the marathon in 4 years.

"Puskedra is probably the best person to run behind in the world, because he's like ten feet tall" - Scotty Bauhs

Awesome race by Scotty, nice PR. Amazing race by Puskedra

I'm officially impressed. It's good to see that as a whole the U.S. is growing in depth of talent at the half and the full.

I can't think of anyone 6'4" and above running even near a world class time.

They're not very common. From way back, Jack Bacheler was world class at the time (but wouldn't be these days). He was 6'7" - the tallest elite marathoner I can recall. Peter Maher (2:11 guy) from Canada was 6'5" and John Lodwick (2:10) was 6'4". I think Robert Cheruiyot is pretty tall for a marathoner (6'3"?), which makes him one of the few super-elites over 6 feet these days. Of course, there have been a lot more small world class marathoners. Josiah Thugwane is the smallest I can think of offhand.

douglas burke wrote:

i cant think of anyone in the NCAA running a better time while in college, very few top collegiate runners run one in college though.

Scotty himself ran 63:06 while red-shirting XC his 4th year.

Great job by Luke. The results of his hard work and consistent training provided by Vin are definitely beginning to pay off. I recall during Luke's injury plagued sophomore year how all the LR numbnuts were criticizing Luke for his performances. Just goes to show how many ignorant wannabes are on this board. And for the fools who say Vin can only coach middle distance runners...in your face.

Todd Williams ran 1:01:52 at age 22 but Luke's time is the fastest-ever by a US runner 22 or under. Great job.

Don't forget Don Kardong. 6'3" 2:11:15 Definitely makes the list of tall fast marathoners.

How does this compare to the top Japanese?

crazy person wrote:

Sammy Wanjiru ran pretty fast at college age.

there is not a "college age". even if "college age" means the normal college age, it's closer to 30 than it is to 20.

wejo wrote:

Just ran into Scott Bauhs on the street. Talked to him about the race

Way to get the story, Wejo.

What I said about him a few months ago might be a bit conservative. With a 1:01:36 1/2, he obviously has the potential to go 2:08/9 and the strong likelihood of going sub 2:11, depending on how well he transitions. He seemed to have the basic credentials for this, an excellent cross country runner, lacking basic speed, running good miles and a competitor who will go for wins even when he is not the strongest out there.

jjjjjjjjj

RE: Puskedra- Freshman year: 28:34, 13:46. 7:58. Current PRs: 28:33, 13:46, 7:57 10/19/2011 8:06PM - in reply to I've been saying... Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

It is surprising that they have not done more, given that they were tremendous coming out of hs and as frosh, but clearly injuries and poor health have played a role for all three of them. Nevertheless, between the three of them, there have been numerous top ten xc nationals finishes and Derrick did run close to his freshman 5k time last year after injury and limited base. Puskedra will probably make his mark as a Brett Gotcher level marathoner (2:10), no small achievement, while Derrick and Fernandez will likely make multiple world championship and Olympic teams, because they have great talent (strength/speed/endurance/desire) and will figure out their health as postcollegiates with limited racing expectations.

I'd argue that Derrick does not have any more leg speed than Puskedra. And Fernandez is way more injury prone than Puskedra....

Not saying what you have predicted will be false..I just don't get the bases.