Puskedra to Attempt Breaking Prep Two-Mile Record at Pre Classic
Jun 03, 2008
It was reported early last week that middle-distance sensation Chanelle Price (PA) entered the women's 800m dash at the Prefontaine Classic. Well another high school athlete has joined the Prefontaine Classic this week, as Utah distance runner Luke Puskedra (pictured left in lead at NIN by John Herzog) has entered the men's two-mile. According to a MileSplit source, Puskedra will be attempting to break the high school two-mile record of 8:36.3h set back in 1979 by Jeff Nelson. More information coming on both Price's and Puskedra's Pre Classic races.
The greatest double performance of all-time in the boys distance events took place Saturday evening at the California State T&F Championships. German Fernandez (Sr., Riverbank, CA), who'd been running incredibly well all year, ran one of the fastest 1600m times ever in 4:00.29 and the fastest all-time 3200m performance of all time in 8:34.23. See what else took place this weekend, as well as State Championship wrap-ups are up for CA, IN, KY, MI, VA and WI.
One of the most successful female prep distance runners of all time, California's Jordan Hasay continues to build her legendary status. This season Hasay won an epic 3200m dual over Christine Babcock at the Arcadia Invitational, while coming back earlier this month to run a strong 4:17.46 1500m race against professional competition at the Stanford Invitational. With her season now kicking into full swing, Hasay talks with us about breaking 10 minutes for 3200 at state this weekend, her goals the rest of the season, her surfing habits and much more.
From Christine Babcock's (CA) monster 1600m run, to Joseph Franklin's (FL) dominating 800m dash, to the great dual between Donn Cabral (CT) and Willie Ahearn (CT) at two-miles, this last weekend in May completely shocked the high school track and field world with amazing performances. (Photo of Mat Smoody running 1:50.71 to win the Illinois State Champs. 800m, photo by Paul Kwak)
The regular season is quickly coming to an end as over a dozen more state meets take place this weekend. States like Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington and Oregon all hold their last contests of the season. MileSplit will keep you up to date with all the top state meet performances, and the few other non-state meets, throughout the weekend, so make sure to keep checking back. (Pictured left: Missouri's Maurice Mitchell wins 100m, 200m & 400m at state, pictured by Tracy Rollins)
A fantastic season came crashing to a halt today. Stanford-bound senior Chris Derrick (Sr., Neuqua Valley, IL) (pictured left by Scott Bush) was diagnosed with mono Wednesday. According to his coach, Derrick felt under the weather last Friday at his sectional championships, where he ran 8:58.88 for 3200m and 4:14.72 for 1600m. Despite running such great times, Derrick continued to feel worn down throughout the weekend. With Michael Fout (Sr., LaPorte, IN) out for the season with an injury and now Derrick with illness, Nike Outdoor Nationals will be missing two of its biggest stars.
A fantastic season came crashing to a halt today. Stanford-bound senior Chris Derrick (Sr., Neuqua Valley, IL) (pictured left by Scott Bush) was diagnosed with mono Wednesday. According to his coach, Derrick felt under the weather last Friday at his sectional championships, where he ran 8:58.88 for 3200m and 4:14.72 for 1600m. Despite running such great times, Derrick continued to feel worn down throughout the weekend. With Michael Fout (Sr., LaPorte, IN) out for the season with an injury and now Derrick with illness, Nike Outdoor Nationals will be missing two of its biggest stars.
Only two weeks ago, Mason Finley (Buena Vista, CO) (pictured left by Alan Versaw) became the third best prep athlete of all-time in the discus, launching the device 222-01. Besides becoming the third best thrower ever in the event, Finley also broke the national junior class record. That's right, this 6-08, 330 pound athlete is only a junior! We caught up with Finley after his impressive shot put and discus victories at his state meet this past weekend and asked him about his big throw and much more.
Only two weeks ago, Mason Finley (Buena Vista, CO) (pictured left by Alan Versaw) became the third best prep athlete of all-time in the discus, launching the device 222-01. Besides becoming the third best thrower ever in the event, Finley also broke the national junior class record. That's right, this 6-08, 330 pound athlete is only a junior! We caught up with Finley after his impressive shot put and discus victories at his state meet this past weekend and asked him about his big throw, why he switched schools this past summer and much more.
According to the South Bend Tribune, Foot Locker champion Mike Fout (Sr., LaPorte, IN) (pictured right by John Herzog) has decided to end his competitive season due to a lingering injury. Earlier this season we reported that Fout obtained a stress fracture during the indoor season and was taking his time getting back into top shape. Well, it seems that Fout's earlier injury healed, but according to the Tribune, "a case of severe tendonitis" is keeping him from training properly. He now looks to heal 100% and start preparing for his collegiate career at Florida State University. 
The official word from Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon came down thatNike Team Nationals is now officially renamed Nike Cross Nationals. While many minor changes will take place to the qualifying system, an emense change comes with the addition of individuals. 90 individual athletes, 45 boys and 45 girls, will be added to the 2008 race. Look for more information over the coming months in regards to qualifying information, site locations and much more. Click inside for the official press release.
The official word from Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon came down that Nike Team Nationals is now officially renamed Nike Cross Nationals. While many minor changes will take place to the qualifying system, an emense change comes with the addition of individuals. 90 individual athletes, 45 boys and 45 girls, will be added to the 2008 race. Look for more information over the coming months in regards to qualifying information, site locations and much more. Click inside for the official press release.
Wow! That's all that can really be said to sum up this past weekend's performances across the nation. With great weather, peak performances and deep fields, some of the results simply impressed. With nearly ten seperate state meets to cover, and numerous other top-tier invitationals, we've decided to merge it all into one big article, a new feature we're going to call The Awards Stand. Each week for the rest of the season we'll recap what the top performances were in each event grouping. See who made it this week. (Photo of Texas' Kyle Clemons by Alex Aldaco)
After taking the entire month of April off from competition, distance star German Fernandez (Sr., Riverbank, CA) (pictured rightby Scott Bush) returned to competitive action Wednesday at the TVL Championships (CA). Fernandez broke three league records, winning the 800m dash in 1:55.59, 1600m in 4:14.03 and 3200m in 9:09.90. After competing in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in March, Fernandez felt some discomfort in his achilles. After scratching from the 3200m start list at the Arcadia Invitational in early-April, the Oklahoma State-bound senior took precautionary measures to make sure he is ready for the various championship action over the coming two months.
U.S. #1 800m runner Chanelle Price (Sr., Easton, PA) (pictured left by Victah Sailor) continued to show why she is the top middle-distance runner in the country Wednesday, winning the 1600m run at the LVIAC Championships (PA) in a U.S. #4 time of 4:46.7. Price also earned a victory in the open 400m dash, winning that event in 54.2. According to PennTrackXC.com, Price then came back to anchor her team's 4x400m relay team to victory with a 53.2 anchor leg. Simply outstanding! 