GERMAN FERNANDEZ 8:34.42!!!!!!!!!

That was an unbelievable performance - ALL ALONE at the end. Anyone who criticizes this kid (he is 17) needs to get some therapy. If it wasn't for Puskedra getting in the way in lap 2, he could have had a legitimate shot at sub 8:30. He does have fans, everyone in the stadium had to be cheering for him and he's developed quite a national following after the amazing CA State double. So if you have to criticize him, please post your 2 mile PR first so we can see what kind of envy you really have. For the record, mine is 8:43 and I ran it when I was 24.

It was a great run. A really great run. The second best performance ever by a high schooler next to Webb's 3:53.

The coverage could have been better - nonetheless, I am grateful for the coverage that we can now get on the internet. Since the feed was so choppy (obviously too many people logged on, not a bad thing), I was mainly relying on the announcing and still images. The announcer was too caught up in the moment to be practical, do his job. He would have been better off in the stands.

But, you know what, if I really cared I would have drove 25 minutes to watch the race. Instead, I sat here drinking Killians and sniping from my desktop.

Thanks for all the hard work covering meets letsrun, flotrack, etc.! I appreciate it.

Hey there Joe wrote:

flip book feed wrote:

And, he's a cocky asshole.

AJ NATION Versus The German Invasion. The tail of two egos. Ah the next few years should be exciting.

Tail?

I don't understand why their egos bother anyone. I mean, German just broke a record. Is he not supposed to be happy about that?

I aggree with you coach....just a excitable kid

Watched it again...WOW

that Coby Lowe has a very smooth stride....can't wait to see how he progresses

Good for him!

Thanks for that link. Those flotrack guys are awesome.

lol, hahahhah for anyone who doesnt believe he hs any fans. Do yourself a favor and click on the video on the left at the letsrun.com homepage. There is a kid wearing a German hernandez T-shirt! even the person filming cannot believe it.

What's up with Colby Lowe stopping his watch at the end of the race? He was .01 behind Puskedra! Why waste his effort with a wristwatch when he could have tried to outlean Luke?

haha, YO wrote:

Hey there Joe wrote:

AJ NATION Versus The German Invasion. The tail of two egos. Ah the next few years should be exciting.

Except German has actually accomplished things worthy of having a following.

I almost always agree with everything you say, but come on man. AJ won FLN, NIN and NON. Not many people have done that.

i don't even see how he has an ego. He just broke one of the hardest records in the books, and you guys are trying to say he's cocky? He didn't talk himself up at all! Seriously you guys have some issues if you really think he has an ego. and as far as fans go, i'm sure a lot of his family and friends flew out to NC to watch him make history.

This is a very good time... and not to discount this accomplishment... but when Ritz ran 8:44 he was truly alone in hot and humid conditions. After the first lap he had 10+ meters on the field. 2nd place was 8:58 in that race. Fernandez definitely had company today. Ritzenhein set the bar for the resurgence of high school running and success breeds success. To say that this race was the \\\\\\\"most anticipated high school race in history\\\\\\\" is a drastic overstatement and only so because of the coverage running currently gets on the internet with much thanks to the BIG 3 of the class of \\\\\\\'01. In the fall of 2000 three American Olympians faced off in cross country. That was probably the best high school only race in history. Since then the accomplishments speak for themselves. American record in the mile. American born marathon record. Third in the world cross junior race. Olympians at 1500, 10,000, 2xMarathon.

What is your point..BIG3?

I admired Ritz but this German's day!

again great coverage by eveyone...dyestat, flotrack, Trackshark, letsrun, runnerspace, etc.....so glad to get all this free coverage!

Sorry, but only one member of the Class of '01 broke a record - Webb with the 3:53. Ritz was truly a great HS runner, but he did not run 8:34, regardless of the weather. Back in '78 Alan Scharsu ran 8:44 all alone at the Golden West, so Ritz was simply copying what a few other 2 milers had done before - run fast times alone. Ritz did not set the bar, he failed to clear it - from a HS record standpoint. DO NOT use this thread to feebly attempt to minimize what happened today.

Nice Race German. What the hell was Luke doing passing him twice in the first half mile? Was he planning on running 8:34 also? (He actually slowed the pace down on the second lap).

Stop saying the kid has an ego. He is 17, not use to all this attention and he handles it pretty dam well. Nice to see him excited about running in college too. Compared to A.J., there is no ego problem

I don't know for sure, but I would assume- yes, Luke did plan on running 8:34 also. Luke hardly and I mean hardly slowed the race down at all and if German wanted to he could have very well gone around him. Luke didn't cost him a second.

Stoned wrote:

What the hell was Luke doing passing him twice in the first half mile? Was he planning on running 8:34 also? (He actually slowed the pace down on the second lap).

He probably cost GF a shot at sub 8:30......who is giving Puskedra advice? He looked like a High School Harry in the first 800 meters - a real rookie.

Stoned, Luke ran his heart out.....get off his back!

"don't know for sure, but I would assume- yes, Luke did plan on running 8:34 also. Luke hardly and I mean hardly slowed the race down at all and if German wanted to he could have very well gone around him. Luke didn't cost him a second."

I disagree. Those guys should have stayed away, or just hung on the back where they belong. Why take the lead and chance tripping him during a national record attempt? Especially when he is more than 10 seconds slower?

"Stoned, Luke ran his heart out.....get off his back!"

Luke is a stud, no doubt. Just not a smart racer.