2011 Cross Country Roster
Roster
Luke Puskedra
- Position:
- Distance
- Height:
- 6-4
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- High School:
- Judge Memorial Catholic
2008 Pac-10 Cross Country Newcomer of the Year
11-Time All-American
2011-12: Outdoors - NCAA all-American and Olympic Trials qualifier. Two-time Pac-12 scorer. Late start to the season saw him post a 10,000 meter personal best of 28:13.91 at the Cardinal Invitational. Scored in two events at the Pac-12 Championships, taking second in the 10,000 (29:34.42) and fifth in the 5,000 (14:01.03). Posted his best ever finish at the NCAA Championships by taking fourth in the 10,000 meters in 28:24.24. At the Olympic Trials, in his final race in an Oregon singlet, set a personal best in the 10,000 meters of 27:56.62 to finish eighth. That was the third-fastest time in school history. Indoors - Did not compete. Cross Country - Joined some of the greatest runners in Oregon history with his sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Covered the 10,000 meter course in Terre Haute, Ind., in 29:09.3 to become just the third Duck to win four cross country All-America honors, joining Steve Prefontaine and Terry Williams. Also became just the fourth Duck to post three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, joining Prefontaine, Alberto Salazar and Galen Rupp. Earned a trip to the NCAA Championships by virtue of his sixth-place finish at the NCAA West Regional, going 29:01 over 10,000 meters. It was his eighth-straight top-10 finish dating back to last season. Was also his fourth career top-six finish at the Regional meet. At the Pac-12 Championships, made it four consecutive top-five finishes in conference races with his fifth-place finish in 22:58 (8,000 meters). Recorded his seventh straight top-10 finish overall in leading Oregon to a solid third-place finish at the league meet. In season debut, posted his sixth-straight top 10 finish at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational. Was ninth in 23:42.8 over the 8,000-meter course. Season Bests: Outdoors - 5,000 Meters - 14:01.03 (PR), Pac-12 Championships, Eugene, Ore. (5/13/12); 10,000 Meters - 27:56.62 (PR), U.S. Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore. (6/22/12).
2010-11: Third-place finisher at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. NCAA All-American (10,000 meters). Outdoors - Had highest career finish at the NCAA Championships where he ran a personal-best 28:33.47 to place sixth in the 10,000 meters. Time ranked No. 6 on the UO career list. Advanced in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA West Preliminary meet where he placed 11th in 29:19.68 in the national semifinals. Also ran the 5,000 at the West meet. Made season debut at the Pac-10 Championships where he scorded in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters to help Oregon win its fifth straight league title. Was fourth in the 5,000 in an outdoor personal best 14:02.62. Took fifth in the 10,000 meters in 29:35.67. After the college season, finished 16th in the 10,000 meters at the USA Championships in 29:02.12. Pac-10 all-academic honorable mention. Indoors - Opened season by running an NCAA automatic time of 13:46.70 in the 5,000 meters at the UW Invitational. Missed a PR by less than .02. Made appearance in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Championships, finishing 14th in 14:02.26. Cross Country - Was fourth or better in every race in 2010. Opened season with an impressive win at the Notre Dame Invitational, covering the 8,000 meter course in 23:39 to win by :06. Helped lead the Ducks to the team title at that race. Part of a 1-2 finish with teammate Matthew Centrowitz to help lead Oregon to the team win at the Bill Dellinger Invitational. Second-place time of 23:38.13 (8,000 meters) was just .02 behind Centrowitz. Helped lead the Ducks to a second-place finish at the Pac-10 Championships by finishing fourth in 23:05.80 (8,000 meters). Posted a personal-best fourth place finish at the NCAA West Regional in 29:59.47 (10,000 meters) to lead Oregon to the regional title. Fall culminated in perhaps his best race as a Duck at the NCAA Championships. Stayed near the front and finished strong to take third in 29:38.0 (10,000 meters), which was two places better than his showing as a freshman. Earned his third career cross country All-America honor in helping Oregon finish sixth. Pac-10 all-academic honorable mention. Season Bests: Outdoors - 5,000 Meters - 14:02.62, Pac-10 Championships, Tucson, Ariz. (5/14/11); 10,000 Meters - 28:33.47, NCAA Championships, Des Moines, Iowa (6/10/11). Indoors - 5,000 Meters - 13:46.70, UW Invitational, Seattle, Wash. (1/28/11).
2009-10: Outdoors - Pac-10 scorer at 10,000 meters for the four-time champions, where he ran fourth in a season-best 29:15.36. Just missed scoring in the 5,000 at the Pac-10 meet, finishing ninth in a season-best 14:03.62. Followed that at the NCAA West Regional by finishing 12th in the 10,000 meters (29:47.54) to qualify for the NCAA Championships. There, he earned the sixth career All-America award by virtue of his 14th place finish in the 10,000 in 29:27.37. Earlier in the year, won the 10,000 meters at the Oregon Relays (29:30.20). Opened season in the 1,500 meters at the Oregon Preview. Placed fourth in the 5,000 meters at the Pepsi Team Invitational (14:10.83). Pac-10 all-academic honorable mention. Indoors - NCAA All-American (5,000 meters). An NCAA qualifier at both 3,000 and 5,000 meters. Hit provisional marks in both events at the Husky Classic. Ran 13:50.87 in an eighth place 5,000 meters finish on Feb. 12 and then came back in a personal best 7:57.42 in the 3,000 the next day. At the NCAA Championships, Was ninth in the 5,000 meters in 13:57.98 and 14th in the 3,000 in 8:22.47. Cross Country - Led Oregon’s second-place finish at the NCAA Championships with his team-best 21st-place finish (30:01.9 10,000 meters), where he also picked up his fourth career All-Amercia award. Paced Oregon to a second-place finish at the Pac-10 Championships with his fourth-place finish (23:05.04). Gained national attention with his win in the Blue race at the Pre-National Invitational in mid-October. Edged Andy Baker of Butler by five seconds, covering the 8,000 meter course in 23:40.2 to lead Oregon to the team title. Also paced Ducks at the NCAA West Regional, where he ran sixth in 30:48.40 over the 10,000 meter course. Opened season with an 11th-place finish (Oregon’s No. 3 runner) at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in 23:53.96. Pac-10 Cross Country All-Academic second team. Season Bests: Outdoors - 5,000 Meters - 14:03.62, Pac-10 Championmships, Berkeley, Calif. (5/16/10); 10,000 Meters - 29:15.36, Pac-10 Championships, Berkeley, Calif. (5/15/10). Indoors - 3,000 Meters - 7:57.42 (PR), Husky Classic, Seattle, Wash. (2/13/10); 5,000 - 13:50.87, Husky Classic, Seattle, Wash. (2/12/10).
2008-09: Impressive freshman campaign saw him place as the top freshman at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and then go on to win All-America honors for both indoor and outdoor track. Was one of only two freshmen nationally to accomplish that feat. Opened track season by running a personal best 13:46.52 in the indoor 5,000 meters at the Husky Classic. That time ranked as the fourth-best indoor mark at Oregon. After scoring at the NCAA Indoor Championships by finishing sixth in the 5,000 meters (13:50.82) and earning All-America honors for Oregon’s first NCAA Indoor national champions, went on to earn a spot on Team USA’s junior cross country team by finishing third at the 2009 U.S. championships. Helped the United States to a fifth place finish at the IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships in Jordan in March. Returned to the track in April and helped Oregon defeat UCLA with his second place finish at 5,000 meters (14:03.45). Focused on 10,000 meters for the championship season and turned in an NCAA automatic time of 28:34.17 in a second-place finish at the Oregon Relays. That time ranks sixth all-time at the University. Helped Oregon to its third straight Pac-10 track championship with his fourth-place finish at 10,000 meters (29:18.11). Capped collegiate season with an All-America performance at 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships where he placed 11th (29:20.18). Had one of his best times of the season in the 10,000 at the USA Track & Field Championships, where he finished 16th (29:11.32). In the fall, turned in the best freshman performance at the NCAA Championships by an Oregon runner since the legendary Steve Prefontaine finished third as a rookie in 1969. His fifth-place finish in 29:27.8 helped the Ducks win their second-straight NCAA Championship and the school’s sixth overall title. Was one of three cross country All-Americans for Oregon, joining Galen Rupp and Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott. Was named the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year. Had four top-six finishes on the season. Ran sixth at the NCAA West Regional and third on the team in 28:45.48 as Oregon claimed its third straight NCAA West Regional title. Finished second at the Pac-10 Championships (23:32.11) to Rupp, helping Oregon win its third straight league title. Led the Ducks to the Bill Dellinger Invitational title as the top Oregon runner (third overall) in 24:06.90. Named the team’s Perry Holloman Newcomer of the Year. Season Bests: Outdoors - 5,000 Meters - 14:03.45, Oregon-UCLA dual meet, Eugene, Ore. (4/19/08); 10,000 Meters - 28:34.17, Oregon Relays, Eugene, Ore. (4/24/09). Indoors - 3,000 Meters - 7:58.42, MPSF Championships, Seattle, Wash. (2/28/09); 5,000 - 13:46.52 (PR), Husky Classic, Seattle, Wash. (2/14/09).
Prep: Claimed Utah 3A state track championships in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters as a prep sophomore, junior and senior and the state cross country crown as a junior and senior. Set all-classifications records his senior year at 3,200 meters (8:54.40) and 1,600 meters (4:09.40). Became the first Utah prep runner to break 9:00 at 3,200 meters. Placed fifth at the 2007 Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships. He turned in the top high school mile time in the country (4:08.77) at the time in the 2008 Reebok Boston Indoor Games before he was clocked in one of the fastest prep 2-mile times in U.S. history in winning the Nike Indoor Nationals in 8:49.58. Was second in both the mile (4:06.60) and two-mile (8:47.06) at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Took tenth in the two-mile at the 2008 Prefontaine Classic (8:46.41). The three-time Utah Boys Gatorade Player of the Year recipient (2007-08 track and 2007 cross country) posted at the time, the state’s fastest 2-mile mark ever in the 2007 state meet (9:04.6) after finishing fourth in the Penn Relays high school boys mile in 4:25.11. 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: Mile - 4:06.60; 1,600 Meters - 4:09.40; Two Mile - 8:46.41; 3,200 Meters - 8:54.40.
Personal: Major is business administration.
Personal Bests
5,000 Meters - 13:46.52 (i),
Husky Classic,
Seattle, Wash., 2/14/09
10,000 Meters - 27:56.62,
U.S. Olympic Trials,
Eugene, Ore., 6/22/12
3,000 Meters - 7:57.42 (i),
Husky Classic,
Seattle, Wash., 2/13/10
NCAA Outdoor Track Championships
2012 - 10,000 Meters, 4th, 28:24.24
2011 - 10,000 Meters, 6th, 28:33.47
2010 - 10,000 Meters, 14th, 29:27.37
2009 - 10,000 Meters, 11th, 29:20.18
NCAA Indoor Track Championships
2011 - 5,000 Meters, 14th, 14:02.26
2010 - 3,000 Meters, 14th, 8:22.47
2010 - 5,000 Meters, 9th, 13:57.98
2009 - 5,000 Meters, 6th, 13:50.82
NCAA Cross Country Championships
2011 - 6th, 29:09.3
2010 - 3rd, 29:38.0
2009 - 21st, 30:01.9
2008 - 5th, 29:27.8
NCAA Cross Country West Regional
2011 - 6th, 29:01
2010 - 4th, 29:59.47
2009 - 6th, 30:48.40
2008 - 6th, 28:45.48
Pac-10 Track Championships
2012 - 10,000 Meters, 2nd, 29:34.42 (Pac-12)
2012 - 5,000 Meters, 5th, 14:01.03 (Pac-12)
2011 - 5,000 Meters, 4th, 14:02.62
2011 - 10,000 Meters, 5th, 29:35.67
2010 - 10,000 Meters, 4th, 29:15.36
2010 - 5,000 Meters, 9th, 14:03.62
2009 - 10,000 Meters, 4th, 29:18.11
Pac-10 Cross Country Championships
2011 - 5th, 22:58 (Pac-12)
2010 - 4th, 23:05.80
2009 - 4th, 23:05.04
2008 - 2nd, 23:32.11
