Luke puskedra gives an incredibly classy interview for a guy who finished 4th at OTs

Les wrote:

Hello, Puskedra toed the line at NOP and obviously has no problems with anything possibly illegal they may be doing. The OTHER 4th place finisher did have problems with NOP, aired them publicly and was raked over the coals for it. Totally understandable how both responded.

On a purely smell test basis, Luke seems like a really admirable young man, and trustworthy. He seemed very genuine in his respect for Rupp, and has on other occasions after leaving NOP.

Kara, there is something else going on. She seemed less than stable when she left Colorado the first time to join NOP! I think there are issues troubling her beyond her beliefs and/or any knowledge of wrongdoing at NOP. That's what makes it hard to take in. She has issues, Magness had stuff going on with an athlete of NOP which caused some problems, Rohat was clearly jealous that Galen left him in the dust, Adam was reportedly control freaking out and interfering with Salazars coaching. Then you have the high school rival kid, Stu Eagon, who went to Wisconsin and washed out. There are reports of him and the Wisconsin guys getting drunk and crank calling Galen in college. I don't know if that's anymore true than the alleged NOP doping, but it wouldn't surprise me considering he was condemning Rupp with essentially nothing. The problem is there are very good reason that all of these people have a grudges against Salazar or Rupp and that makes it all to easy to say that true doping is occurring.

If Webb or Ritz or Puskedra or Hasay or Rowbury or someone like that who doesn't appear to have a materialized bias towards them came out and claimed of doping knowledge, well I'd be blown away.

He ran very well considering the heat and his size. At his size and weight the heat affected him much more than his smaller competitors.

After Kara's interview just about anyone would look like the greatest athletic hero of all time.

I think real professionals understand that if you train and race your best then you can accept whatever result comes. After all, if Rupp has not decided to run the marathon right now then Luke would be on the team. Not everything in controllable and there are always better runners out there. The marathon is brutal not just because of the distance but because you train for months, get one shot at it, and are vulnerable to any number of random events.

Agree 100%

No one is giving up an Olympic spot due to injury. Unless the runner breaks a leg or has some catastrophic injury (known to the public) he/she will not give up a spot due to the contractual benefits of toeing the line at the start of the race. Simply being one of the three qualifiers is not enough for their bonuses to kick in.

This guy is class. Compare that to the whiny, near-hysterical interview we heard from the other 4th place finisher and you have to shake your head at the difference. It makes you want something really good for Puskedra and just tell the other one to shut the f.. up, and please retire, for the good of the sport. .

William XC wrote:

Rupp could change his plans and do 5k/10k. Or decide not to do the marathon, while in Rio, after the 10k for some reason. Not sure if Puskedra would be there at that point.

If Meb were injuried I could see him giving up his spot.

Probably not Ward.

35% seems high to me, but yeah it's possible.

doesn't work like that, you have to decide way before the games.

hillbilly jack wrote:

No one is giving up an Olympic spot due to injury. Unless the runner breaks a leg or has some catastrophic injury (known to the public) he/she will not give up a spot due to the contractual benefits of toeing the line at the start of the race. Simply being one of the three qualifiers is not enough for their bonuses to kick in.

Also, if the alternate could not get top 3 in the Trials what chance do they have to get top 3 in the world? I would say unless there is a realistic shot that the alternate can medal, there is no benefit to give up the spot in the first place regardless of injury.

class to him. it is a tough break to finish 4th but it does show that he has come all the way back from a disappointing pro start and retirement. He is also first alternate so he could end up competing there if someone is injured and has the class to pull out.

LOL I thought the same thing! Why are finisher's medals even being given at the trials?

Portland Rose wrote:

On a purely smell test basis, Luke seems like a really admirable young man, and trustworthy.

Kara, there is something else going on. She seemed less than stable when she left Colorado the first time to join NOP!

Hmm... Yet another personal attack against anyone who dare not toe the NOP line.

classyguy wrote:

This guy is all class. What a great response he gives to a clearly disappointing day.

https://youtu.be/-iY_nEmcodg

no credit for things you are supposed to do.

"Not true, the alternate was also injured at the time."

Big deal then you take #5.

"Also, if the alternate could not get top 3 in the Trials what chance do they have to get top 3 in the world? I would say unless there is a realistic shot that the alternate can medal, there is no benefit to give up the spot in the first place regardless of injury."

Well with that logic, one could argue that if one is only 2nd or 3rd in the US, what realistic shot does one have to be top 3 in the world? Regardless, the US should put forth athletes that plan to run the entire race and give it an honest go. Regardless of how one finishes, I just want 3 people to respect the race and give their all for the US, representing us well. Not a selfish athlete more concerned about herself than her team and country.