Mindaugas Pukštas

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{short description|Lithuanian marathon runner}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| headercolor = lightsteelblue

| name = Mindaugas Pukštas

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname =

| nickname = Mindi

| nationality = {{LTU}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|8|3|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR,
Soviet Union

| death_date =

| death_place =

| residence = Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.

| height = {{height|m=1.80|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|70|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| sport = Athletics

| event = Marathon

| collegeteam = Oklahoma State Cowboys

| club =

| coach = Rene Sepulveda

| pb = Marathon: 2:12:52

| medaltemplates =

| show-medals = yes

| updated =

}}

Mindaugas Pukštas (born 3 August 1978) is a Lithuanian former marathon runner.{{cite sports-reference|title = Mindaugas Pukštas|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pu/mindaugas-pukstas-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200417225845/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pu/mindaugas-pukstas-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 17 April 2020|access-date = 4 November 2014}} He represented his nation Lithuania at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and later became an All-American in cross-country racing as a member of the track and field team for Oklahoma State University, under head coach Rene Sepulveda, while studying at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States.{{cite news |title=Lietuvių startai Atėnų olimpinėse žaidynėse|trans-title=Lithuanians have started the Athens Olympics |language=Lithuanian |url=http://www.ve.lt/naujienos/sportas/lietuviu-startai-atenu-olimpinese-zaidynese-/ |publisher=Vakarų ekspresas | date=10 August 2004 |accessdate=4 November 2014}}{{cite news |last=McMullen |first=Paul |title=Pukstas looks to make misstep a lapse of past |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2005/10/13/pukstas-looks-to-make-misstep-a-lapse-of-past/ |work=The Baltimore Sun | date=13 October 2005 |access-date=4 November 2014}}{{cite news |title=Former Cowboy ran Olympics thinking of new son |url=http://www.ocolly.com/article_949583cc-b5d2-5542-b376-b198772a6e15.html |publisher=Daily O'Collegian | date=15 September 2004 |accessdate=4 November 2014}} Before his time at Oklahoma State, Pukštas was an All-American for the SMU Mustangs track and field team, finishing 8th in the 5000 m at the 2003 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.{{cite web |url=https://www.ustfccca.org/records-lists/meet-history-by-event?gender=1&series=3369&event=11 |title=5000 meters at the NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships |website=USTFCCCA |access-date=28 December 2024}}

Before he retired from his athletic career in 2006 to pursue volunteer coaching for his alma mater's track and field squad, Pukstas ran a career best in 2:12:52 to win his first and only title at the Eurasia Marathon in Istanbul.{{cite news |title=Course records fall in Istanbul, as Europeans sweep marathon honours |url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/course-records-fall-in-istanbul-as-europeans |publisher=IAAF | date=6 November 2006 |accessdate=4 November 2014}}{{cite news |title=Lithuanian Pukstas Wins 28th Eurasia Marathon |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/latest-news_lithuanian-pukstas-wins-28th-eurasia-marathon_37974.html |publisher=Today's Zaman |date=5 November 2006 |accessdate=4 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104111128/http://www.todayszaman.com/latest-news_lithuanian-pukstas-wins-28th-eurasia-marathon_37974.html |archivedate=4 November 2014 }}

Pukstas qualified for the men's marathon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, by finishing third and registering an A-standard entry time of 2:14.59 from the Motorola Marathon in Austin, Texas.{{cite news |title=Pukštas qualifies for the 2004 Summer Olympics |url=http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/022304aaa.html |publisher=Oklahoma State University athletics |date=23 February 2004 |accessdate=4 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104075333/http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/022304aaa.html |archive-date=4 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} He finished seventy-fourth in a vast field of a hundred runners with a time of 2:33:02, trailing behind the gold medalist Stefano Baldini of Italy by nearly twenty-two minutes.{{cite web |title=IAAF Athens 2004: Men's Marathon |url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/olympic-games/28th-olympic-games-3201/results/men/marathon/final/result |work=Athens 2004 | publisher=IAAF | accessdate=27 September 2013}}{{cite news |last=Auruškevičius |first=Algirdas |title=Atėnai perdavė olimpinę estafetę Pekinui|trans-title=Athens hands over the Olympic flag to Beijing |language=Lithuanian |url=http://www.ve.lt/naujienos/sportas/atenai-perdave-olimpine-estafete-pekinui-/ |publisher=Vakarų ekspresas | date=31 August 2004 |accessdate=4 November 2014}}

Pukstas currently resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma, along with his wife and fellow assistant coach Živilė Pukštienė, and their children Rokas and Gabija. In May 2011, Pukštas overcame the rains across the city's lengthy course to claim the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon title under the men's senior category in 2:31:33.{{cite news |title=Ex-Cowboy Mindi Pukstas wins Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon men's event |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/othersports/ex-cowboy-mindi-pukstas-wins-oklahoma-city-memorial-marathon-men/article_71291f6c-f525-5424-afa3-1712e6c3edaf.html |publisher=Tulsa World | date=2 May 2011 |accessdate=4 November 2014}}