Former Oregon Duck Luke Puskedra has joined the Nike Oregon Project and will work under coach Alberto Salazar.

 

This ends a small period of speculation for the previously unsponsored Puskedra. When Flotrack spoke to him before the 2013 Houston Half-Marathon, he was “in the process of negotiating a contract” and was working with his agent, Dan Lilot.

 

Puskedra told aurumsportsgroup.com, "I'm really looking forward to joining the Nike Oregon Project and training under Alberto [Salazar]. I think it will be a smooth transition, as my coach at Oregon, Andy Powell, has learned a lot from Alberto, and I've already been doing some of the same workouts as the guys in the group."

 

He’ll rejoin former Oregon teammates Galen Rupp and Matt Centrowitz, who are clearly excited for his addition.

@lukepuskedra heard that group sucks

— Matthew Centrowitz (@MattCentrowitz) February 1, 2013

Up next for Puskedra will be the 2013 USA Cross Country Championships. He'll join fellow Nike Oregon Project teammate Dathan Ritzenhein, Matt Tegenkamp, and Chris Derrick, and other top Americans in St. Louis on February 2nd.