Eugene, OR - Luke Puskedra will be attempting to break the U.S. High School 2-mile record this weekend in a special invitational race at the Prefontaine Classic.

The senior, who signed with the Oregon Ducks on March 18th, will be paced through the race by at least one rabbit who will take him out at a blistering 4:15 per mile pace with the goal of running somewhere in the 8:30 range. The current high school two-mile record was set by Jeff Nelson of Burbank High in 1979 at 8:36.3.

Puskedra ran a PR of 8:49.58 to win the Nike Indoor Nationals earlier this year on a 200 meter non-banked indoor track. Some of the nation-leading high school 2-mile times over the last decade that he bested were: Josh McDougal, 8:50.40, 2004; Galen Rupp, 8:54.45, 2004; Chris Solinsky, 8:56.26, 2003; Dathan Ritzenhein, 8:50.4, 2001; and Andy Powell, 8:50.29, 1999. This will be Puskedra's first appearance at Hayward Field.

Article by Kevin Ullman

Watch Puskedra's 3200 at the Arcadia Invitational

Resource for historical records: Register-Guard