Chris Lukezic

[Nevada Hoya]

I am sorry to say that Chris will not be competing for Georgetown anymore. He has just gone pro. Congratulations to him for all his great running at GU, and best of luck to him in the future.

GA&M welcomes Chris Lukezic
July 1, 2005

Chris Lukezic, 1500-meter runner-up at the USA National Championships, has joined GA&M as a client. An All-American out of Georgetown, the up-and-coming Lukezic also finished fourth at the 2004 Olympic Trials.

[Nevada Hoya]

A summary of Chris's achievements:


Chris Lukezic
Represents: USA
Hometown: Auburn, WA
College: Georgetown University
Events: Middle Distance
Coach: Juli Henner
Personal Best
800m 1:46 (relay)
1500m 3:38.58

Achievements
2005:

2nd, USA Championships, Carson CA, 1500m, 3:42.06

6th, NCAA Championships, 1500m, 3:38.58

1st, NCAA East Regional Championships, 1500m, 3:49.03

1st, Big East Conference Championships, 1500m, 3:55.96

5th, Mt. SAC Relays, 800m, 1:47.75

1st, Mt. SAC Relays, Olympic Development 1500m, 3:42.52
2004:

4th, US Olympic Trials, 1500m, 3:40.05

7th, Prefontaine Classic, 1500m, 3:39.90
2003: 1st, US Junior National Championships, 1500m
2002:

1st, US Junior National Championships, 1500m

1st, Golden West Invitational, Mile, 4:06.84

1st, Millrose High School Mile

[reformation]

Good luck to Chris, not totally surprised at this--turning pro early is definitely a growing trend for track stars-unfortunately for GU this will put a damper on the prospects for Gu's mens team next yr, was looking fwd to brumbalough + Debole returning + Lukezic
wonder if he will still train with GU?

[Nevada Hoya]

reformation said:

Good luck to Chris, not totally surprised at this--turning pro early is definitely a growing trend for track stars-unfortunately for GU this will put a damper on the prospects for Gu's mens team next yr, was looking fwd to brumbalough + Debole returning + Lukezic
wonder if he will still train with GU?

You and me both, Reformation! There are various rumors on where he will train - some say with Alan Webb in Virginia, so that will offer some continuity, because he has been training with Webb this year also. Some say he and Webb and headed out west. Also, I have heard that Julie Henner, assistant coach of GU, might join them out west. But that is mainly speculation on some of the running boards. I feel sorry to Bumbi, if they head west.

Meanwhile, we will keep watch to see if he gets the A standard for the Worlds.

[Bardo Rodeo]

Julie Henner will join them out west in what capacity?

[Nevada Hoya]

Coach at Stanford. But just an unsubstatiated rumor.

[Duke Ellington]

That's a crazy rumor.

The women's cross country coach at Stanford has stepped down but I can't see Julie Henner as being a viable candidate.

Lukezic has run well, but couldn't the decision to run professionally waited another year? It's not like he's over-trained or over-raced while at GU, the coaching staff has done right by him. If he does in fact "head out west" does that mean he forgoes a Georgetown Education? I wish him well and wish him luck, and thank him for his great contributions to the Track Program.

[Nevada Hoya]

I agree, DE, about Chris waiting another year (I don't know what to think about Julie, but I tend to think it is somebody speculating because the Stanford job came up, which is a compliment to Julie). I would want him to stay in the area and get Nike or whatever company he signed with to pay for his last year (quite significant at $40-45K. One thing that may have precipitated this move is his running in Europe in an attempt to make the A standard. Who is paying for that trip? If he and his parents had to shell out the money for the trip, I can see his temptation to go pro so that somebody else could pay for the trip. NCAA rules being what they are, it would place him in a bind. That being said, he tried again (probably too soon after his first European race) as probably a last second entry in the Golden Gala race in Rome. Still no A standard:

Golden Gala - Roma (ITA)Friday, July 08, 2005

Official Result
Men - 1500 Metres - Race 1

Pos Athlete Nat Mark

1 Ramzi Rashid BRN 3:30.00
2 Komen Daniel Kipchircir KEN 3:30.37
3 Lagat Bernard USA 3:31.09
4 Heshko Ivan UKR 3:32.47
5 Silva Rui POR 3:32.91
6 Higuero Juan Carlos ESP 3:35.44
7 Iguider Abdelati MAR 3:36.00
8 Kipchirchir Alex KEN 3:36.04
9 Obrist Christian ITA 3:39.55
10 Damião Manuel POR 3:39.82
11 Lukezic Christopher USA 3:39.95
12 Shabunin Vyacheslav RUS 3:39.98
13 Sullivan Kevin CAN 3:40.08
Kipkurui Benjamin KEN DNF
Korir Paul KEN DNF
Lelei David KEN DNF
Simotwo Suleiman Kipses KEN DNF

[Nevada Hoya]

The official GU website has a story on Chris's turning pro. In the story they do say he qualified for the World's Champs. That is true, IF he can get the A qualifying time.

guhoyas.collegesports.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/071305aaa.html

I guess Chris is a bit like AI in being the first Hoya in his sport to go pro before completing his eligibility.

[Nevada Hoya]

There was a nice article on Chris in the Nov. issue of Track and Field News. He is still enrolled at GU, living near campus with guys on the team. He said he feels like more of a college student again. It talks about his qualifying for the Worlds and participating in Helsinki. Also, about his friendship with Alan Webb, whom he stayed with last year, when Chris's lease was up at GU. Chris said it was nice to have Alan with him, when he traveled to Europe for his first time. He has begun a slow mileage buildup. His goal is to win a US championship, be competitive in every race he runs, and finally to be the best in the world.

[Nevada Hoya]

What's up with Chris? Besides running a fast (especially for Jan.) 1000m in about 2:21, he is entered in a tough mile race at the Boston Indoor Meet this Saturday. The field for that race is

Men's Mile NAT. Nate Brannen CAN Rob Myers US Kevin Sullivan CAN Mike Woods CAN Jason Lunn US Neil Speaight GBR Adam Goucher US Bernard Kiptum KEN Laban Rotich KEN Ryan Kleimenhagen US Chris Lukezic US Elkanah Angwenyi KEN Geoffrey Rono KEN

Here is some recent information and news on him.

It’s hard to call Chris Lukezic’s potential a secret, given his 4th-place finish at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Yet the "buzz" had always been about someone else. Not anymore. After finishing second to Alan Webb, an occasional training partner, at the 2005 nationals, Lukezic went on to get the "A" standard and then make the 1500-meter semifinal at the World Championships. That "A" standard, 3:35.22, also moved him into second place in the Georgetown record books, behind only Steve Holman and ahead of John Gregorek. An information technology major taking five classes this fall, Lukezic nonetheless has long dreamed of owning his own coffee shop and bakery, reflecting his roots in the coffee-loving Pacific Northwest.
In His Own Words
“It was such an extended season from NCAA that after the World Championships, I was just mentally and physically ready to shut it down and get in a good rest. I think it was a smart decision. I feel more fired up to get back to racing than I otherwise would.”
“I can’t say I even thought turning pro last year was a possibility. That kind of caught me by surprise. I was concentrating on achieving certain goals, on making the World Championships, and everything that came with that was just a bonus. It’s not like something you can train for. It was a tough decision to leave the collegiate system and to leave my team, and winning an NCAA individual championship was something I wanted to do. But I realized that making the World Championship team was moving on to a different level, and this was an opportunity to learn the sport as much as I can at a young age.”
“In Europe, the racing was definitely a lot more competitive. It raises your expectations of yourself, going over there. Now, that learning period is over as far as traveling, the hotels, the logistics of going from one meet to another in unfamiliar territory. The first time over there is distracting at times, and you need to learn to stay focused when there’s so much chaos going on. Especially at the World Championships; in the athletes’ village you’ve got so many athletes doing their own thing. I always tried to make sure I was in control at least of what was in my head.”
“At the World Championships, I had a blast. When I finished the first round it was one of the happiest moments of my life. After the semifinal, at first I was bummed that I didn’t make it to the final, but sitting at dinner in the athletes’ village later and reflecting, I was pretty happy with my season.”
“I still live with some guys on the Georgetown team, but I train mostly on my own. It took some getting used to, but now I’m in a good rhythm training by myself. Come spring I’ll probably train more with the team and, like I did last year, with Alan (Webb). I still keep a locker in the locker room there, so I’m still in the team environment. I’m still kind of living in a bubble.”
“Actually, I’m heading to a coffee shop right now to do some work. A lot of people who go there are web designers or graphic artists. It’s a nice atmosphere for getting some schoolwork done while having a cup of coffee and meeting some interesting people. It’s called Murky Coffee in Arlington, Virginia. They’re very devoted to their coffee. The owner is always up on his roasting techniques and he’s very committed to making good coffee, something I can appreciate.”
Advice to Young Runners
“Patience and confidence are the most important mental aspects of the sport for anyone who aspires to race at a high level. It is necessary to have the patience to put in the work and endure the invariable ups and downs of training, while at the same time possessing the confidence that you're ready to race when you toe the starting line.”

Also, running at the Boston Indoor Meet is #1 American miler and GU grad, Treniere Clement. The lineup:

Women's Mile NAT. Treniere Clement US Lindsey Gallo US Meskerem Legesse ETH Mestawot Tadesse ETH Jen Toomey US Carmen Douma-Hussar CAN Malindi Elmore CAN Christin Wurth-Thomas US Sinead Delahunty-Evans IRE Kate Vermeulen CAN Anne Shadle US Jenelle Deatherage US Tiffany McWilliams US Colleen Kelly US

Colleen Kelly is also a Georgetown grad. Tommy Manning was supposed to run the 1000m event there too, but his name has been removed from the event.

[Nevada Hoya]

Chris didn't finish high, although he was leading on the 7th or 8th lap, but this, as far as I remember, is his first sub-4 minute mile. His 1500m times are equivalent to about 3:52, but it is nice to have this sub-4.

Men 1 mile
Finals
1 Elkanah Angwenyi KEN 3:55.95
2 Jason Lunn USA 3:56.77
3 Laban Rotich KEN 3:56.83
4 Nate Brannen CAN 3:57.17
5 Adam Goucher USA 3:57.60
6 Mike Woods CAN 3:57.87
7 Kevin Sullivan CAN 3:58.07
8 Rob Myers USA 3:58.24
9 Neil Speaight GBR 3:58.49
10 Chris Lukezic USA 3:58.53
11 Ryan Kleimenhagen USA 3:59.00
12 Bernard Kiptum KEN 4:02.95
-- Alexander Skvortsov RUS DNF

[Nevada Hoya]

Treniere Clement had a better result in the women's mile in the same Boston Indoor Games just missing the former Villanova star and holding off Tiffany McW, who had beaten her at the NCAAs one year. Colleen did not finish; she may have been a rabbit.

Flash Results, Inc.
Reebok Boston Indoor Games - 1/28/2006
Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center
Boston, MA

Event 12 Women 1 Mile Run
===============================================================
Alley Start, Pos 1-6 on back row, 7-10 on front row
Name Year Team Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Carmen Douma-Hussar CAN 4:29.52
2 Treniere Clement USA 4:29.93
3 Tiffany McWilliams USA 4:30.03
4 Jen Toomey USA 4:30.39
5 Malindi Elmore CAN 4:31.27
6 Mestawot Tadesse ETH 4:33.44
7 Christin Wurth-Thomas USA 4:36.08
8 Jenelle Deatherage USA 4:37.86
9 Anne Shadle USA 4:38.15
10 Sinead Delahunty-Evans IRE 4:39.26
11 Lindsey Gallo USA 4:40.35
12 Meskerem Legesse ETH 4:45.05
-- Colleen Kelly USA DNF
-- Kate Vermeulen CAN DNF

[Nevada Hoya]

Treniere was the only Hoya in the Millrose Games tonight at MSG. Had a bad outing (22 s slower than last week):

Womens 1 Mile Run Fred Lebow
1 Carmen Douma-Hussar CAN 4:35.64
2 Courtney Babcock CAN 4:36.00
3 Malindi Elmore CAN 4:36.28
4 Mestawot Tadesse ETH 4:36.52
5 Tiffany McWilliams USA 4:37.43
6 Mary Jane Harrelson USA 4:43.35
7 Jenelle Deatherage USA 4:47.32
8 Treniere Clement USA 4:51.22

[reformation]

Treniere was/looked totally out of it from the start-must be sick, injured etc.. Lukezic was in the program for the mens 1500 but unfortunately did not race.

[reformation]

I still wonder somewhat what Lukezic gained by going pro early--he pretty much races in the same events that he would have if he was still running for GU--also hard to believe that his comp from Reebok is that lucrative.

[Nevada Hoya]

I was thinking that Treniere must have been sick (or fallen). I think what Chris gained by going pro is for somebody to fund his trip to Europe last summer and ultimately getting the A standard. If there were no World Champs last year, Chris is still running for GU. Must Reebok must be paying for his education (or at least what he was getting from his scholarship).

[Bardo Rodeo]

8 or so months later from Chris deciding to leave GU, I still don't see the benefit in his decision. He got to go to Europe and get the A Standard, short term...great. But long term? He would have been better off running for the Blue and Gray. Reading his quotes from the bio that was included in the Boston Indoor games made me feel sorry for him....working at Murky Coffee in Arlington? Feeling like a "college kid"? Give me a break. GU did right by him and I think he got and took the wrong advice. He wouldn't have been over-trained or over-raced if he remained a Hoya...but, hey, it's just water under the ol' Key Bridge.

[reformation]

Have to agree with you on all counts, also id be wiling to bet that Gu could have found a way to fund Lukezic's trip to europe/worlds --alums could have kicked in--I'm sure there was a way to do it within NCAA rules

[Nevada Hoya]

Yes, if there was a way to send him over to Europe without having to turn pro would have been the best solution. I just don't know if there was an NCAA approved way. The only way I see approved by the NCAA is his parents' paying his way. I might be totally wrong on this, but with the NCAA you have to assume the worst. I only hope he gets his GU degree, but it would have been great to have him back. It seems as if he is rooming with some guys on the team.