High school athletes of the week

LUKE PUSKEDRA, Judge, cross country: Records were meant to be broken, but this Judge cross country runner shattered one last week.

The senior won the 3A state cross country title last week by finishing in a time of 14 minutes, 54.6 seconds, 13 seconds better than the previous record held by Provo's Josh Rohatinsky.

With the regionals and nationals just around the corner, Puskedra figures to be in the hunt for those titles as well.

"Puskedra is amazing," said Cedar boys coach Keenan Hart. "You ask anyone in the Western states. At this point, he is so far ahead of everybody else. He is good, and he's consistent. He's one of the best runners, I think, ever out of the state of Utah. There have been some good ones. There'd probably be somebody that would argue with me."

· · · · ·

TARA GEHRING, Wasatch, soccer: This senior midfielder did a little bit of everything for the Wasps as they claimed their first Region 10 title this fall. She not only led the team in scoring with 25 goals on the season but was also tops with assists as well.

"The type of numbers Tara put up this year were amazing," said coach Dawain Wheatley. "To get that many goals from the midfield position is incredible. There is no doubt we wouldn't have reached where we did without her. She was so important to us, and she is one of the best players I have ever had here."

Gehring was huge all year, but she stepped it up in the playoffs as she led all players in 3A with six goals in the postseason. She is also an important member of the girls basketball team.

· · · · ·

To nominate a prep of the week, contact Deseret Morning News prep editor James Edward at jedward@desnews.com.