Chris Derrick will beat German Fernandez at World XC

The guy just doesn't get tired. He is like Forest Gump. The longer the race the better he gets. End of story.

He is running these races off his xc prep and he is just that good.

I served with Vipam: I knew Vipam; Vipam was a friend of mine. Loser, you're no Vipam.

you could have said the same thing before usatf xc champs

the next Vipam wrote:

I truly believe this will happen, and although will be roundly criticised as a trolling attempt is genuine.

Why?

German is racing a lot of fast short races, this is not conducive to a strength event like XC. To be in shape to run 3.55 like he did he is suffering the bigger picture and someone like Derrick who has raced more sparingly and with greater focus on the specific distance will surprise him I think.

People will argue that he is running these races off his xc prep and he is just that good.

No.

Don't be so naive, even the best runners there have ever been could not run indoors 3.55 without some specific work to that end. Something has to suffer.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

German enjoys having cake and eating it. Watch and learn.

I am a huge fan of German after what he has done this indoor season. I know his coach and he has not being training like some of his other counterparts - that is Coach Smith's style. Keep indoors low-key.

With that being said, Derrick might very well beat German at Worlds. Derrick is a very good runner that appears to be really focusing on Worlds. German is a great runner who is getting fit right now - with little focus really on a particular distance. His running at Worlds is for experience. Obviously he will run the hardest he can and let the cards fall. The experience of being there is what they are looking to get used to for the future.

If German can stay healthy - Outdoors is going to be a barn burner with Rupp and him tearing up some nasty track times.

In summary, Derrick will run well and possibly beat German at worlds due to Derrick's focus being that race. German will run well there and if healthy, will run amazing outdoors.

Derrick is good, Fernandez is better.

3:55.02/7:57 in one day in prep for the 8k race.

Fernandez > Derrick.

Matlock wrote:

I know his coach and he has not being training like some of his other counterparts - that is Coach Smith's style. Keep indoors low-key.

However that's not what is happening.

Also, Smith said he might keep Fernandez out of Worlds to run NCAA indoor. This is jumping on pennies while the dollars are washing downstream.

Would Canova have Fernandez running fast indoor miles in preparation for an 8k cross country? Heck no.

German has a very efficient style for long races, but still the training needs to be right. It would be sad to turn the potentially fastest 10k/marathoner in U.S. history into another of the run of the mill milers. The fear about running a 5k is sad. Little kids in this country are running 5k's, and marathons. Little kids in Africa are running distances all day long. Geb's first race ever was a marathon at 16. And college runners in the U.S. are getting advice to build up to a 5k.

Chris Derrick will rock Fernandez. Keep in mind Derrick finished just a bit behind him at the US championship, and this was after falling during the race! Falling takes A LOT out of you. Your adrenaline rush from the fall practically exhausts you. And still, he was able to maintain composure and keep it close.

That said, Derrick will beat Fernandez by about 10 seconds at Worlds.

You heard it here first.

J.R. wrote:

The fear about running a 5k is sad.

I don't think there is any fear on German or Coach Smith's part about the 5k. They know that is where his strength will lie and I can guarentee you outdoors he will run an awesome one. Indoors, who cares? Also, German is no "run of the mill" miler you idiot. He's already the fastest in collegiate history (well, maybe .02 off) as an 18 year old freshman.

No. Smith said that he might keep Fernandez out of NCAA indoor to concentrate on the WC CC.

You do not know the training of OSU - you are assuming.

I have no problem with German running Worlds or NCAA's. Both will provide great experiences. I would prefer him to go to Worlds but facing the very best runners the NCAA has to offer on the track is not a bad substitute for his first indoor season.

There has been very little prep for any specific race or distance thus far. He raced junior nats to make the team and have options. 2 mile races and 2 3000 races sounds is just fine. Who gives a crap what Canova would or wouldn't do because there are not preparing him to run an awesome xc race. They are just getting German fit - overall. Focus to his specific races will come in a month or so.

Someone who ran the fastest time ever for the indoor NCAA mile has his choice at races. Willis was an Olympic medalist in the 1500 that never ran as fast as German did his 2nd time running the mile indoors. At the moment he could potentially be a world class miler or 10k runner and beyond. That is up in the air. It isn't German's fault that he happens to be running the mile really fast right now - regardless of competition or not. He is that good - deal with it.

Derrick ran 7:57.3 the other night, finishing second to Centrowitz. Luke ran 7:58.4.

Good times for both.

It's no where close to German who ran 7:57 solo doubling back from a 3:55.

Still a 8k Cross Country is a totally different race. I think both Luke and Derrick are capable of beating German in XC. Maybe not if German runs his best (and I said "maybe"), but it he is a little off and they are on, then they can.

Although, I am sure you are much more in tune to German's strengths, ablilities, goals and needs than either German or his coach, at least have the decency to accurately criticize their plan that is destined for failure.

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/display_article.php?id=28915

Derrick and Puskedra are two of the best junior Cross runners America's ever seen. German is the best distance runner America has ever produced.

German could jog Derrick's 7:57 and likely his 13:44 as well. That's no slight to Derrick because he's a tremendous talent who I absolutely root for every race. But I just can't see him competing with, let alone beating, a guy who can run the first 1400 of a 3k at Derrick's pace, then close in a 4:04-5 mile, a guy whose coaches believe is better suited for a 5k than a mile.

While I agree that it seems absurd (or scary) that he could be running so fast off of predominantly strength type training, you really can't say unless you've got access to his log. There's a lot of hype surrounding him right now because he has been kicking serious ass, but who's to say he won't continue this trend and be one of the all time greats? All we know is that he is young, already very fast, but still improving quickly. Seems to me like the sky is the limit, and I hope it is.

And even if he has been focusing on faster training, I'm not sure I buy into the idea that his longer ability has to tank just because he's racing miles and 3ks. Fast is fast, and and 8k isn't that long anyway.

German running a 3:55 at Big 12s is very impressive but considering what he opened his season at it is not very surprising. I do not know what his training is like right now but i believe that he is not training for these miles. They have stated an emphasis on racing at World XC and on a big 5k for outdoors. After hearing those goals, i believe his mile is (as scary as this is to say) off of his strength work. Coach Smith sounds like he is being patient with German and is using the mile as a tune-up.

Racing the miles hard does not mean they have trained specifically for them nor does racing them destroy his ability to preform at longer distances. Coach Smith having him run "all-out" in a mile a few weeks before an 8k seems to be a decision to give German the confidence to hang/kick with the best.

If German is running that well and as relaxed as reported running the 7:57 to close the double he could be rounding into incredible shape.

How many times do you all need the German bitch slap? Even though Derrick's entire goal in life right now is to beat Luke and German, GERMAN is gone! Luke is not back yet after NCAA XC and Derrick is full tilt. Unless German gets nailed by a sniper or is way sick, he is gone at WJXC. If Derrick jumped into the race with a mile to go....then maybe we could discuss if he could beat GERMAN!!!!!!!!

DNFernandez. You heard it here first.