Luke Puskedra (born February 8, 1990) is an American long-distance runner who competes over distances ranging from 10,000 meters to the marathon.
He grew up in Ogden, Utah and attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School before studying business administration at the University of Oregon. He competed for the Oregon Ducks track and field and cross country teams, earned 12 NCAA Division I All-American awards and was a 10,000 meter finalist at the NCAA level four years running from 2009 to 2012.Luke Puskedra Oregon Ducks profile. Oregon Ducks. Retrieved on 2015-10-16.
In 2015 Puskedra won the Vancouver Sun Run. Gary Kingston. Vancouver Sun: "They're Tough": Vancouver Winner Worried About Kenyan Runners. April 20, 2015.
Running career
High school Puskedra graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2008. He was an eight-time state champion in high school winning Utah state track championships in the 1600 meters and 3200 meters as a sophomore, junior and senior and winning the state cross country championships as a junior and senior.High school boys track: Track stars run to glory Judge's Luke Puskedra dominates in distances. Retrieved on November 2, 2015 He set all-classifications records his senior year in track at 3200 meters (8:54.40) and 1,600 meters (4:09.40) and cross country (14:54.60).2008 Utah Boys State Track and Field Results. Retrieved on November 1, 2015Utah State Cross Country Championships results. Retrieved on November 2, 2015 He was also the first Utah high school runner to break 9:00 in the 3200 meters. He was the 2007 Nike Cross Southwest Regional champion winning the race in 14:48 breaking the meet record. He went on to place fifth at the 2007 Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships.2007 Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships results. Retrieved on November 2, 2015 He ran the fastest high school indoor mile time in the country (4:08.77) in 2008 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. On March 16, 2008, at the Nike Indoor Nationals Puskedra ran the sixth fastest high school indoor two mile time in U.S. history winning the race in a time of 8:49.58.King of the Mountain: An Interview with Utah's Luke Puskedra. Retrieved on November 2, 20152008 Nike Indoor Nationals results. Retrieved on November 2, 2015Luke Puskedra Going for High School Two Mile Record. Retrieved on November 2, 1015Boys' Track Top Performers. Retrieved on November 2, 2015 In 2008 as a senior he placed second in both the mile (4:06.60) and two mile (8:47.06) at the Nike Outdoor National meet.2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals results. Retrieved November 2, 2015 He placed tenth in the two mile at the 2008 Prefontaine Classic in a time of 8:46.41.2008 Prefontaine Classic two mile results. Retrieved on November 2, 2015 As a junior he finished fourth in the Penn Relays high school boys mile in 4:25.11. Puskedra was a three-time Utah Boys Gatorade Athlete of the Year recipient (2006–07 and 2007–08 in track and 2007 in cross country).Utah Boys' Track Athlete of the Year. Retrieved on November 1, 2015Judge's Puskedra Earns National Award. Retrieved on November 1, 2015 He was the 2007-08 Salt Lake Tribune Athlete of Year (all sports) and a USA Today All-American at one and two miles.
High school bests:Luke Puskedra Athletic profile. Retrieved on November 2, 2015 800 m - 1:58.37 Mile - 4:06.60 1600 m - 4:09.29 Two mile - 8:46.41 3200 m - 8:54.40
Collegiate Puskedra was recruited to University of Oregon where coach Andy Powell had him specialize in various long distances spanning from the 3 km to 10 km. He placed fourth overall in the men's 10,000 meter final at the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships.
Post-collegiate After graduating from Oregon, Puskedra signed a professional contract with Nike and joined the Nike Oregon Project. There he was coached by Alberto Salazar, and the training regimen was very similar to the college program as Salazar was largely influential in Powell's training philosophy at the University of Oregon.
However, at the end of 2014, his contract with Nike expired, and Puskedra did not anticipate continuing a professional career in running. He moved with his wife to South Africa and gained 23 pounds from his race weight in the course of a month. In spite of the time elapsed from his graduation, college coach Andy Powell remained in contact with Puskedra and gradually convinced him to return to running.
Puskedra and his wife returned to the United States, where he trained briefly for a marathon debut at the 2014 New York City Marathon. In his marathon debut, he ran 2:28:54, but given his half marathon personal record it was widely seen as a disappointing result. Although discouraged by his experience in New York City, he proceeded to train for the 2015 Grandma's Marathon, where he ran a significantly faster result of 2:15:27.
After 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials, Puskedra switched from Nike to ASICS following Team Hall's apparels unification. But he later reverted to Nike, due to connect with Evan Jager and Sam Crouser.
In January 2018, Luke Puskedra joined the Oregon Track Club.
Shortly after the 2019 Aramco Houston Half marathon, Luke Puskedra's Oregon Track Club contract becomes expired. Soon, Luke Puskedra retired from competitive running and turn into real estate. For 2019 season, Luke Puskedra won't run at the 2019 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20k. Instead, Jim Walmsley will run the 2019 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race 20k.
Competition record
Marathon Representing the 2014New York MarathonNew York, New York36th2:28:542014 New York City Marathon men's overall results. Retrieved on October 16, 20152015Grandma's MarathonDuluth, Minnesota6th2:15:272015 Grandma's Marathon men's overall results. Retrieved on October 16, 2015Chicago MarathonChicago, Illinois5th2:10:242015 Chicago Marathon men's overall results. Retrieved on October 16, 20152016US Olympic Trials MarathonLos Angeles, California4th2:14:12Chicago MarathonChicago, Illinois19th2:20:182017Boston MarathonBoston, Massachusetts9th2:14:45Chicago MarathonChicago, Illinois20th2:17:53
Half marathon Representing the 2012Houston Half MarathonHouston, Texas4th1:01:362012 Houston Half Marathon msn's overall results. Retrieved on October 16, 2015World Half Marathon ChampionshipsKavarna, Bulgaria 17th1:02:462015Rock 'n' Roll Half MarathonPortland, Oregon1st1:05:102015 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon results. Retrieved on October 16, 20152016Houston Half MarathonHouston, Texas4th1:01:29On Final Day of Qualifying, Houston and Arizona Swell Olympic Trials Ranks. Retrieved on January 10, 20182018Houston Half MarathonHouston, Texas34th1:03:40
USA National Championships
Road 2012USA 20 km ChampionshipsNew Haven, Connecticut 2nd20 km58:482012 USA 20K Championships. Retrieved on October 17, 20152014USA Half Marathon ChampionshipsHouston, Texas6thhalf marathon1:01:482014 USA Half Marathon Championships results. Retrieved on October 16, 2015USA 20 km Championships New Haven, Connecticut3rd20 km1:01:322014 USA 20K Championships results. Retrieved on October 17, 20152015USA 15 km ChampionshipsJacksonville, Florida18th15 km46:252015 USA 15 km Championships results. Retrieved on October 17, 2015USA 20 km ChampionshipsNew Haven, Connecticut4th20 km59:302015 USA 20K Championships results. Retrieved on October 16, 20152016US Olympic Trials Los Angeles, California4thmarathon2:14:122016 US Olympic Team Trials - Marathon results . Retrieved on February 14, 20162018USA 20 km Championships New Haven, Connecticut14th20 km1:03:31
Track and field 2012U.S. Olympic TrialsEugene, Oregon8th10,000 m27:56.622012 U.S. Olympic Trials results. Retrieved on October 15, 20162013USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDes Moines, Iowa9th10,000 m29:27.282013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved on October 16, 2015
NCAA championships
Outdoor track and field Representing Oregon2009NCAA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsFayetteville, Arkansas11th10,000 m29:20.182009 NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved on October 16, 20152010NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon14th10,000 m29:27.132010 NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved on October 16, 20152011NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa6th10,000 m28:33.472011 NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved on October 16, 20152012NCAA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDes Moines, Iowa4th10,000 m28:24.242012 NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Retrieved on October 16, 2015
Indoor track and field Representing Oregon2009NCAA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsCollege Station, Texas6th5000 m13:50.822010NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Fayetteville, Arkansas9th5000 m13.57.9814th3000 m8:22.472011NCAA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsCollege Station, Texas14th5000 m14:02.26
Cross country Representing Oregon2008NCAA Cross Country ChampionshipsTerre Haute, Indiana5th29.27.8http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/33-archive/319-ncaa-xc-2008-men . Track and Field News. Retrieved on October 16, 2015 2009NCAA Cross Country ChampionshipsTerre Haute, Indiana21st30:01.9http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/33-archive/320-ncaa-xc-2009-men. Track and Field. Retrieved on October 16, 20152010NCAA Cross Country ChampionshipsTerre Haute, Indiana3rd29.38.0http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/33-archive/487-ncaa-xc-2010-men . Track and Field News. Retrieved on October 16, 20152011NCAA Cross Country ChampionshipsTerre Haute, Indiana6th29:09.3http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/26-news/948-ncaa-xc-2011-men-indiana . Track and Field News. Retrieved on October 16, 2015
Personal bests Surface Event Time Date Location Outdoor track1500 m 3:53.79 March 21, 2009 Eugene, Oregon Mile 4:06.60 June 18, 2008 Greensboro, North Carolina3000 m 7:59.33 May 3, 2013 Eugene, Oregon 2 miles 8:46.41 June 8, 2008 Eugene, Oregon 5000 m 13:31.88 May 17, 2013 Los Angeles, California 10,000 m 27:56:62 June 22, 2012 Eugene, Oregon Indoor trackMile 4:08.77 January 26, 2008 Boston, Massachusetts 3000 m 8:00.69 January 30, 2010 College Station, Texas2 mile 8:07.41 January 25, 2014 Landover, Maryland5000 m 13:50.82 March 13, 2009 College Station, Texas Road10 km 28:53 April 19, 2015 Vancouver, British Columbia12 km 35:47 May 3, 2015 Spokane, Washington 15 km 46:25 March 15, 2015 Jacksonville, Florida20 km 58:48 September 3, 2012 New Haven, Connecticut Half marathon 1:01:29 January 17, 2016 Houston, TexasMarathon 2:10:24 October 11, 2015 Chicago, Illinois
References
External links
Luke Puskedra University of Oregon Ducks profile Luke Puskedra Joins the Nike Oregon Project