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

BIG3 wrote:

This is a very good time... and not to discount this accomplishment... but [followed by five lines of the most faulty logic ever displayed]

"Mr. BIG3, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

Stoned wrote:

"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?

I agree with Stoned - Puskedra got in the way. German had to pass him at least twice on lap 2. It's one thing to compete, it's another to get in over your head. Puskedra is 0 for 2 in 2 mile record attempts and 2 for 2 in getting in over his head.

I didn't say that is what he should have done. Based off the things I have read, I just believe that, yes, he probably was going for the record as well. There is an interview out about how much confidence he and his coach have. So I was simply answering the other guys question, " Was he trying to run 8:34 also"! He tried at Pre. It wouldn't be too crazy to imagine him trying to do it again.

Sure, maybe the smart thing to do was to let German run away from everyone and run for second. Doesn't seem like Luke's type of running and I don't blame him.

Be sure to tell everyone who chases Bekele in Bejing that they should just let him go because they might trip him....

the big question wrote:

Is he a US citizen???

Seeing as he represented the good ol' USA at Worlds XC, I'd assume yes.

maybe not....but I like his spirit unlike so many others that are not willing to get out of their comfort zone and go for it! Big time props to Lowe and Luke....and you sir are a Pompas ass.

"Well, if he wasn't planning on running 8:34, then the only way to win is slow it down, right? So he attempted to slow it down to give himself a shot? Doesn't that sound reasonable?"

Are you serious? Slow it down? O.K. A national audience for a record attempt tuned in and some jackass (Not Luke)tries to slow down the pace so he can win?

Wow.

His coach was not lying when he said they did not do any fast speed work...nothing faster than 30sec 200's...his last lap was 62 point ?....that is crazy. As I watched the race unfold, I assumed he would drop a 58 or 59 last lap...this kid is super strong. He coach is a genius...better to undertrain than overtrain.

I was also happy to see the record broken against HS runners. No pacers...No pros or collegians...

Good Work German!

dead poets society wrote:

I didn't say that is what he should have done. Based off the things I have read, I just believe that, yes, he probably was going for the record as well. There is an interview out about how much confidence he and his coach have. So I was simply answering the other guys question, " Was he trying to run 8:34 also"! He tried at Pre. It wouldn't be too crazy to imagine him trying to do it again.

Sure, maybe the smart thing to do was to let German run away from everyone and run for second. Doesn't seem like Luke's type of running and I don't blame him.

Be sure to tell everyone who chases Bekele in Bejing that they should just let him go because they might trip him....

The 10,000 at championships never goes out that fast. That allows 27 minute guys to hang with Bekele for a while because the pace is comfortable for them. Puskedra was obviously in over his head trying to hang on to German's pace.

why wouldnt paskedra just chill behind german? paskedra ran dumb.

Who is Paskedra? I didn't see such a person in tonight's race.

dead poets society wrote:

I didn't say that is what he should have done. Based off the things I have read, I just believe that, yes, he probably was going for the record as well.

Seriously? There was only one person going for a record today. I don't think Luke got in the way or slowed anyone down, I just don't think he had any chance in the world of "going for the record as well."

Kevin Williams 5th in 8:51. Yet another Colorado kid drops his PR by 15 seconds when going to sea level.

BA wrote:

you people seriously have problems. i'm embarrassed by fellow athletes and fans right now. a hallowed record was just broken. what a run.

QFE - what a great run by German Fernandez, and has a generous personality too.

I just got back from the meet. I wanted to see this phenom for myself, and the 180 mile round-trip was well worth it. This kid's got game. I was down at track level and watched his cadence very carefully to see if during those last three laps he might have been under some sort of stress; we all know what the tell-tale signs are. All I've got to say, it seemed to me he had a whole left in the tank; German's form never waivered from beginning to end, other than accelerating his pace.

As far as the track announcer is concerned, perhaps he did pour it on a little thick, but I think the crowd probably needed it as things were fairly quiet, that is, until the last three laps, and even then they needed a little prodding. I mean, for goodness sakes, here was a high school athlete, running alone, going for a record that's stood for 29 years! Like anyone else, when the crowd is energized, the athletes feed off it and sometimes good things happen.

German's got a very, very bright future. If there's a little ego attached to it, so be it. His post-race interview didn't bear that out, though. Our sport needs all the pesonality it can get, if it captures the public's imagination, so much the better. I ran high school cross-country and track in the late 1960's. Can't even begin to tell you how much we rated back then.

okay, count me as a fan...man, i was on the edge of my seat wanting him to break the record. he did and i was happy as a clam. and i am happy to call myself a fan of german fernandez! of course, he should say that he didn't want to let his fans down. there are many, for sure. anyone else out there joining me to call themselves a fan? there's no ego there...i think he speaks the truth.

Key word is, "going for the record." Not getting the record.

I don't think he had had any chance of breaking the record either. But why is it so hard for you people to realize that HE thought he did! Remember when he ran at Pre to try and get it? He told his coach that he thought he could run sub 4. Once again, I don't think he has a chance at sub 4, but HE thinks he can.

old timer thanks for the post race review....would loved to have seen/witness it.

By the way dunes runner....what does QFE mean?

thanks

The sound feed was OK...some people always find something to complain about.

Anyone know if Jeff Nelson was on hand for the event? He's had the record for a long time so I hope he was cheering for Fernandez also.