German Fernandez 2nd at Big 12 1500

Nice finish! i wish someone would recorded it!!

He was also 4th in the 5k in 14:03. Winner was 14:01. I haven't seen any of his races this year, but looking at the body of work, it looks like he can run with people but is lacking the finishing kick.

He use to have a great kick. Maybe he no longer has the desire to really push himself at the end. He hasn't hit an Olympic qualifying time yet.

more runners have not, than have

trun25 wrote:

He use to have a great kick. Maybe he no longer has the desire to really push himself at the end. He hasn't hit an Olympic qualifying time yet.

how many have?

top 30 wrote:

how many have?

Three

top 30 wrote:

how many have?

3:39.00 is the A standard and these guys have hit the mark so far

3:34.11 Russel Brown

3:35.66 David Torrence

3:36.20i Bernard Lagat

3:37.31 Jack Bolas

3:37.48 Craig Miller

3:37.60 Jeff See

3:38.86 Alan Webb

3:38.92i Matthew Centrowitz

Miles Batty is really close @ 3:39.15i

Many of those at his level have met the "A" standard (i.e. Chris Derrick, Lawi Lalang, Cam Levins, Tom Farrell, Diego Estrada, Chris O'Hare, Corey Leslie, Paul Chelimo, Van Ingen), but of course he still has plenty of time.

top 30 wrote:

how many have?

trun25 wrote:

Many of those at his level have met the "A" standard (i.e. Chris Derrick, Lawi Lalang, Cam Levins, Tom Farrell, Diego Estrada, Chris O'Hare, Corey Leslie, Paul Chelimo, Van Ingen), but of course he still has plenty of time.

top 30 wrote:

how many have?

Many of those guys will either not run the 1500 at the trials or are not racing for the US. None of those guys have raced below the A standard....

He and Webb seem to be on parallel paths.

So, really, Oklahoma State went 1-2-3 at the Big XII 1500.

Those are just some of the current collegians who have an A standard in an event German could conceivably run (1500, 5K, 10K). Lawi Lalang, Chris O'Hare and Van Ingen have made the standard in the 1500.

That Guy wrote:

Many of those guys will either not run the 1500 at the trials or are not racing for the US. None of those guys have raced below the A standard....

[quote]trun25 wrote:

Many of those at his level have met the "A" standard (i.e. Chris Derrick, Lawi Lalang, Cam Levins, Tom Farrell, Diego Estrada, Chris O'Hare, Corey Leslie, Paul Chelimo, Van Ingen), but of course he still has plenty of time.

German went

3:46/3:43/14:03 in 2 days, pretty encouraging sign and I wonder if he's in 13:45 shape fresh.

I think he's in pretty solid shape overall. I feel like he's in a similar boat as webb. He's strong and fit right now; he just doesn't have the finish. Of course, I didn't see either of his races, so maybe it was just a matter of poor race tactics? Someone have video of it?

Anyway, I like to think he could run 13:30s fresh and in a fast race. His real problem is qualifying for nats. His best shot is the 1500. I'm not sure if 3:43 will get him in. Probably needs a 3:42 at least. Anyone have any idea what it'll take?

That Guy wrote:

top 30 wrote:

how many have?

3:39.00 is the A standard and these guys have hit the mark so far

3:34.11 Russel Brown

3:35.66 David Torrence

3:36.20i Bernard Lagat

3:37.31 Jack Bolas

3:37.48 Craig Miller

3:37.60 Jeff See

3:38.86 Alan Webb

3:38.92i Matthew Centrowitz

Miles Batty is really close @ 3:39.15i

You forgot Wheating. I think I saw a post on his FB where he noted his 1500 from Paris last summer gives him the A.

he is currently in and qualified for regionals based off todays time. they take the top 48 in every event for regionals then the rest qualify from there to nationals. if he gets out of regionals he makes it back to nationals.

and those saying the A standard is 3:39, thats the trial's standard. the oly A is 3:35.5

From just a month ago, I thought coach Smith said that he hadn't even been running in order to recover from an injury. So it's hard to know how many miles German has in the bank, which pretty much leaves him out of the game for the 5000. It's too bad, because I think it's probably his best event.

Hopefully he can make it to NCAAs in the 1500 through sheer will and talent, but with the lack of fitness, I don't see him being able to hold off the other big dogs to be able to place any higher than 4th. But who knows, maybe he'll come full circle and run another 3:39 tape to tape and win. A long shot, but fun to contemplate.

trun25 wrote:

He use to have a great kick. Maybe he no longer has the desire to really push himself at the end. He hasn't hit an Olympic qualifying time yet.

No, he never had a great kick. Decent at best.

He simply doesn't have the leg speed velocity to succeed at a high level in the 1500. This is true even if he does manage to stay healthy for a good stretch. If he is ever to make some noise in the professional ranks it will be in the 5000 or 10000. And that is 100% dependent on long term, healthy training.

A 54s last 400m to win a 3:39.00 national title wire-to-wire as a freshman demonstrates a lack of speed?

Master of Reality wrote:

trun25 wrote:

He use to have a great kick. Maybe he no longer has the desire to really push himself at the end. He hasn't hit an Olympic qualifying time yet.

No, he never had a great kick. Decent at best.

He simply doesn't have the leg speed velocity to succeed at a high level in the 1500. This is true even if he does manage to stay healthy for a good stretch. If he is ever to make some noise in the professional ranks it will be in the 5000 or 10000. And that is 100% dependent on long term, healthy training.