How good is Fernandez's double

Love it! Thanks.

great stats.

"For him to do that 3,200 after his first race, just amazing," said his coach, John Vizcaino. "People were telling me it might be the best distance-double ever by a high school kid in the nation." [italics mine] (Modesto Bee)

Riverbank's German Fernandez turned in perhaps [italics mine] the most impressive distance double in state history Saturday, clocking a National Federation High School record 8 minutes, 34.23 seconds in the 3,200meters and a meet-record 4:00.29 in the 1,600 at Cerritos College. (LA Daily News)

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I've read several news articles now that use these same qualifiers — "it might be" or "it may be" or "perhaps." Let's call it what it is: the best distance double ever achieved by a U.S. high school athlete.

Will try to italicize one more time: "For him to do that 3,200 after his first race, just amazing," said his coach, John Vizcaino. "People were telling me it might be the best distance-double ever by a high school kid in the nation." [italics mine] (Modesto Bee)

That double is scary good, just simply mindboggling. I really thought Virgin (and actually Rupp too) were two of the best high school runners in US history. Fernandez's performance settled any debate about where he would rank: He's definitely the top all-time (at least at the mile/2-mile levels).

I got to see Sage run his double, but this is several levels beyond what Don ran back in 2000. I am simply astonished; not only did Fernandez run these 2 hours apart, but he also had to qualify for the mile the day before, and he had run doubles each of the two weeks preceding this race, and in those races he ran spectacularly. Just amazing.

I agree its the best double ever in high school. But I stop short of naming Fernandez the best high school distance runner ever. Ryan and Webb would have to be considered.

I'm not so sure they couldn't have run a similar double if they needed to (properly motivated).

Ireland Forever wrote:

I'm not so sure they couldn't have run a similar double if they needed to (properly motivated).

unbelievable ignorance on your behalf sir. We aren't talking about what could have been, we are simply talking about what has already occurred.

why is that a stupid comment.

Do you doubt that someone who runs a 3:53 for the mile couldn't possibly run a 8:34 for the 3200 after running a 4:00 for 1600?

Actually I think its likely they were capable of that.

Look I'm agreeing that Fernandez's double is the best double ever in high school running.

But I consider Jim Ryan the greatest high school runner ever. Look at the times he ran given the equipement and track conditions he ran then in.

Fernandez is considerably slower in the mile than Ryan and with modern spikes and rubberized tracks.

Most of the posters here on LetsRun are too ignorant of history to realize how incredible Jim Ryan was.

Not only was he the best in the US while a high school senior but also one of the best in the world.

Can't say that about Fernandez.

Don't cheapen what Fernandez has done by over-stating his place in history. Just leave it at it was the best high school double of all time.

I'm going to speculate this kid's got great 5000m potential. Watching that video of the 3200, he didn't look like he was running very hard at that pace -- minimal arm swing, etc. Add the two times and you get 12:35 for 4800m, on 13:06 5k pace. Hmm.

F@#Ken monsterous!

he makes it look so easy

429 opening xcounrty mile looked like a jog

he has the talent

does he have the attitude to turn this into long tern achievement?

It will be fun to watch

Its a speculation in jest about 13:06, but I think he could legitimately run 13:30.

Any idea what his training is like? The kind of mileage he puts in? His interval workouts & does he cross train?

Thanks.

i second that

Any idea of what he's doing next year? College? Being eaten by Alberto Salazar? Both?

I hear he runs 40 miles per week on a underwater treadmill in addition to biking 200 miles a week.

His only dry land runs are intervals. Usually 20 x 400 @ 59-60 w 1 min recoveries.

He also does the Herschel Walker thing and does 1000 crunches and 1000 push-ups every night. Which he has time to do because he only sleeps 3-4 hours a night.

Guys, it's spelled Ryun.