for the record german does not look old ive stood next to him and was actually surprised at the fact that he was a senior. and when you realize how often hes been injured and how little quality mileage hes been able to put in, its all amazing.
for the record german does not look old ive stood next to him and was actually surprised at the fact that he was a senior. and when you realize how often hes been injured and how little quality mileage hes been able to put in, its all amazing.
irun wrote:
From an interview with German Fernandez on Dyestat.com:
6) There are a few "German Fernandez Stories" floating around the internet. One is that you stopped to tie your shoe at your league cross country finals after 800m, still hitting the mile at 4:45, and finished in 14:42. Another is that less than four months after returning from knee surgery, you ran 4:05 for 1500 then came back the next day with a 1:09 half marathon. True or false? And can you add a few details?
GF: Yes, I had to stop to tie my shoe at the league finals after 800 meters, and it was scary because I had never been in that situation before. Maybe that was why I ran so fast. And last year, four months after my surgery, I ran 4:05 for a 1500 and then, the next day, a half marathon in 1:09, which I really didn't enjoy. It was supposed to be my easy long run with my girlfriend Georgina Arnold. I started off at 6:30 pace, and then after that it became a race. I picked it up to a 5:19 pace, catching up to the leaders, and outkicked the last two older guys at the end to win it. After I finished, they told me I made it to nationals, and I'm like, "What? I can't go— if my coach finds out what I just did, he'll kill me (no joke)." So I gave my spot at nationals to the fourth guy who finished. Man, my legs were so burned out that I couldn't even walk. It was horrible. It took me two weeks to recover from that race, so yeah, it was pretty intense.
*************************************************
I had the opportunity to run with German in the above half marathon. It was at the Davis Stampede in February, and I was running as a tune up for the LA Marathon the following month. My goal was to win the race, and run at or slightly below goal Marathon pace (1:11-1:12). I went out slow, and at two miles into the race was 30-40 seconds behind the leaders. I decided it was time to move and 1:12 wasn't going to win, so I dropped my pace from 5:35 to about 5:15 pace. On my way up to the leaders, I passed a duo of young high school runners, and one of them (Fernandez) ended up latching on to me at around 2-1/2 miles.
At the four mile mark, we had just clocked a 5:17 or so, and he asks me what pace I'm trying to run. I said "5:20's", and when I asked him, he replied with "6 minute pace". I figured I'd drop him in another mile or two, and I'd continue on up to the leaders. Around the 6 mile I took notice of this kid's form and toughness, and thought to myself "I have no idea who this kid is, but he's for real and may hang with me for the whole race."
We continued running between 5:13-5:20 pace for the next several miles. At a couple different points he fell off by about 5 meters, but quickly surged back up on my shoulder. We managed to catch second place by mile 8, but still trailed the leader by a steady 15 seconds at the 9 mile. I surged hard at 9, with Fernandez on my shoulder, and we managed to catch the leader just after the 11 mile mark. It should be noted that as we passed by the 11 mile marker, I was asked by Fernandez how long the race was.
From there it was a three man race all the way into the last quarter mile, with German powering away from myself and the 3rd place finisher, and a mere 3 seconds separating the three of us. I was happy to PR after the race, but a little shocked because I had just lost to a 16 year old. I wondered how many High Schoolers in the country could run that fast for a half marathon right now? Ten? Five? All I could do was tip my hat and realize that I had just been beaten by someone great. I really think if I had been running 1:07 pace that he would have run a 1:07 and out-kicked me.
It was only afterwards that I found out he was a state champion as a Soph. etc. At least now I can say I lost to the California XC record holder at Woodward :)
--Alex Cardiasmenos
there are always people who try to come up with excuses or reasons to debase someone else's success. i would ignore the allegations. the kid is just super talented. won state in 15:14 as a sophomore, missed xc his junior year due to knee surgery then had shin splints in the winter and early spring, but 4 months after he was back he ran 4:05 for 1500m and then a 1:09 HM the next day. that's just talent, as evident from the 14:24 5k. diego mercado's best 5000m in high school was 14:25 and that was on the track.
irun wrote:
there are always people who try to come up with excuses or reasons to debase someone else's success. i would ignore the allegations. the kid is just super talented. won state in 15:14 as a sophomore, missed xc his junior year due to knee surgery then had shin splints in the winter and early spring, but 4 months after he was back he ran 4:05 for 1500m and then a 1:09 HM the next day. that's just talent, as evident from the 14:24 5k. diego mercado's best 5000m in high school was 14:25 and that was on the track.
Speaking of Diego, he holds the CR at Mt. Sac.
A lot of these guys are also listed on the Woodward Park list (including Jeff Nelson). Should be fun to see what he does on the Mt. Sac course.
Mt. SAC All-Time Top 30 Individuals...(3 Miles)
# TIME NAME SCHOOL YEAR COMPETITION
1 14:24 Diego Mercado West Covina 2005 Mt. SAC XC Invite
2 14:28 Ryan Hall Big Bear 2000 CIF SS Finals
2 14:28 Mohammed Trafeh Duarte 2003 CIF SS Finals
4 14:30 Brandon Bethke El Toro 2004 Mt. SAC XC Invite
5 14:32 Jeff Nelson Burbank 1978 Mt. SAC XC Invite
6 14:33 Tim Nelson Liberty Christian 2002 Mt. SAC XC Invite
6 14:33 Mark Matusak Loyola 2003 Mt. SAC XC Invite
8 14:35 Chad Hall Big Bear 2006 Mt. SAC XC Invite
8 14:35 Ryan Hall Big Bear 2000 CIF SS Prelims
10 14:36 Brian Dameworth Agoura 1989 CIF SS Finals
10 14:36 Mark Matusak Loyola 2004 CIF SS Finals
12 14:38 Eric Mastalir Jesuit 1985 Mt. SAC XC Invite
12 14:38 Mohammed Trafeh Duarte 2003 Mt. SAC XC Invite
12 14:38 Troy Swier Mar Vista 2002 Mt. SAC XC Invite
15 14:39 Eric Reynolds Camarillo 1982 CIF SS Finals
15 14:39 A.J. Acosta El Camino (SD) 2005 Mt. SAC XC Invite
17 14:40 Louie Quintana Arroyo Grande 1990 Mt. SAC XC Invite
17 14:40 Fitsum Tesfa Don Lugo 2004 CIF SS Finals
17 14:40 Danny Mercado West Covina 2005 Mt. SAC XC Invite
20 14:41 Bryan Dameworth Agoura 1989 Mt. SAC XC Invite
21 14:42 Josh Spiker Ventura 1999 Mt. SAC XC Invite
21 14:42 Ben Sitler St. Francis (MV) 2005 Mt. SAC XC Invite
23 14:43 Louie Quintana Arroyo Grande 1990 CIF SS Prelims
23 14:43 Yong-Sung Leal Arroyo (SL) 2001 Mt. SAC XC Invite
23 14:43 Philip Reid Rio Mesa 2002 CIF SS Finals
23 14:43 Mark Matusak Loyola 2004 Mt. SAC XC Invite
23 14:43 Fitsum Tesfa Don Lugo 2004 Mt. SAC XC Invite
23 14:43 Diego Mercado West Covina 2004 CIF SS Finals
29 14:44 Eric Reynolds Camarillo 1982 Mt. SAC XC Invite
29 14:44 Brandon Behke El Toro 2004 CIF SS Finals
Compare these to the Woodward Park List (5K):
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Below athletes from CA, unless noted. Course also used for Kinney/Foot Locker West Regionals.
All-Time Boys List
1. Marc Davis (San Diego) 1986 14:38
2. Eric Reynolds (Camarillo) 1982 14:39
2. Bryan Dameworth (Agoura) 1989 14:39
4. Jay Marden (Mission San Jose, Fremont) 14:40
5. Louie Quintana (Arroyo Grande) 1990 14:47
6. Tom Ansberry (Santa Rita, Tucson, Az) 1980 14:49
6. Calvin Gaziano (Castro Valley) 1984 14:49
8. Ryan Hall (Big Bear) 2000 14:50
9. Jon Butler (Edison, Huntington Beach) 1980 14:52
10. Dan Mazo (South, Eugene, Oregon) 1980 14:53
10. Matthew Davis (Mead, Spokane, Wa) 1993 14:53
12. Mark Mastalir (Jesuit, Sacramento) 1985 14:54
12. Tracy Garrison (Klamath Falls, Or) 1983 14:54
14. Chris Caldwell (Tucson, Az) 1982 14:55
14. Mark Dani (Valhalla, El Cajon) 14:55
16. Francis O'Neill (San Pasqual, Escondido) 14:56
17. Jim Ortiz (Barstow) 1982 14:57
17. Brad Hudson (South, Eugene, Or) 1982 14:57
17. Theo Martin (Page, Az) 1992 14:57
17. Matt Farley (Jesuit, Sacramento) 1993 14:57
21. Jesus Gutierrez (Pasadena) 1982 14:58
21. Jason Balkman (San Jose) 1994 14:58
"A lot of these guys are also listed on the Woodward Park list (including Jeff Nelson). Should be fun to see what he does on the Mt. Sac course."
That should have said "...(including Ryan Hall).." and I just meant to mention that Jeff Nelson was in the results for Mt Sac.
The Mt.Sac course all time list you have posted is wrong. the course changed in 1998.
http://dyestatcal.com/rank/xc2005/October/31MtSACAllTime.htm
and
http://prep.caltrack.com/2001crosscountrynotes/011020MtSACAlteredCourseRG.htm
Since the course has been chaged, the invitational now brings in more people and makes more money. The Mt. Sac staff now say they have not made any changes to the course, and will not change the all time list.
permitting decent weather, fernandez goes sub 14:20
Shane Lavell wrote:
Make no mistake about it German is as good as any US High Schooler ever at the 5K X distance. 80-90 will provide a solid foundation. Progression will come from even more miles, f*** trying to leash a talent you let these types of guys run, if he wants to do 150 Miles a week I would support it. Look at the Japanese, they run a ton, it will only make him or break him. Try to leash him to be great at 24-25 what you'll get is just another good US middle distance runner. Unleash him and let him explore his limits and who knows what will happen.
Amen.
Alex Cardiasmenos, a beautiful story shared with humility and respect. A classic mf when he asks you how long the race is? If it was straight up, and if he realizes his potential as a runner, you will have a great story to share down the road.
Z. Mubowie reaffirms what has already been established here regarding Mt. Sac then and now. The courses are not the same. Ergo, comparing 1980 times to 2007 is truly apples and oranges. (Besides, we were all faster back in the day).
I looked back at the video and was right in stating that Fernandez "collapsed" at the finish line. He collapses immediatelly after crossing and then rolls onto his back and stays there for 10 seconds. When the officials tried to pick him up, suddenly he waived them up, stood up and then jogged a few steps. Did he collapse, or was he showboating? Either way, there are likely problems ahead for this kid.
16 minutes is usually more around 4th in d 4 and if you actually look its usually won more around 15:05-15:20 and as far as back in the day even under 16 minutes was barley top 5
permitting decent weather, fernandez goes sub 14:20(quote)
like ive said on the other message boards, they add another .1 mile for the FL regional course.
so its likely that he wont run 14:20s.
plus, dont you think he'll want to just qualify for FL and keep his legs fresh for the real race?
in the interview, post race, is it just me or does the interviewer say that German is 21 years old....
if that's true, it's not all that special. so what's the story- how old is he?
last time his coach mentioned his age (this last summer), he was 16.
Human dyestat aka justin...they dont make the mt sac a 2.9 course like u said in the other thread..they make it a true 5k and they finish on the track...get ur ino right fool. and the regular course is 2.9 not 2.8
my mistake.
Does German surf, because I have heard that many of the people in California surf, i was jw, lol
The new Mt. Sac Course is 2.95 miles. It is 13-15 seconds faster than the old course, and about 20 seconds faster than woodward park. That easily puts German at a sub 14:10 performanc at SAC, which is UNHEARD of. Anywhere in the teens is unheard of (no one has ever run that fast except probably Jeff Nelson's converted time, which was probably 14:19 or so). You guys have it all wrong. Everyone on this board who has said anything negative about German's performance is simply wrong. He has been hurt or has just not run the sport and dabbled in other sports every year of high school until this year, where he finally got some base in. Then he goes out and runs a time on Woodward which, no matter what anyone says, is one of the top 2 performances by any high school athlete ever in cross country. He beat Marc Davis's record by 14 seconds, and Davis was one of the greatest distance runners in American history, and holder of the Balboa course nationals record, 4 seconds (?) faster than Solinsky, one of the great American distance runners now. Also, none of these guys just started casually running sophomore year and only really started training their senior year at relatively low mileage. Furthermore, the vast majority of record times, including most of the top few times on that course have been at Kinney Regionals where people run much faster than they do at the state meet because state becomes more tactical. The number two time on that course is held by Eric Reynolds, an 8:44 full two-miler that year, a time that is completely not representative of his talent as he was an ultra-distance runner. AND, I don't see how anyone can say that German is arrogant, he seemed normal and humble to me in the video interview and the interview quoted on this board. So I would really like to see how anyone can contest his performance as one of the greatest by a high school runner ever given this information.
XCGuy wrote:
The new Mt. Sac Course is 2.95 miles. It is 13-15 seconds faster than the old course, and about 20 seconds faster than woodward park.
_______________________________
The new Mt.Sac course is 2.91 and it's an 18 to 20 second conversion.
http://prep.caltrack.com/2001crosscountrynotes/011020MtSACAlteredCourseRG.htmand
http://dyestatcal.com/rank/xc2005/October/31MtSACAllTime.htmThat converts the old course time to a 14:14 on the new course
______________________________
Also,none of these guys just started casually running sophomore year and only really started training their senior year at relatively low mileage. .
________________________________
Nelson didn't start until his Soph. year, and sat out most of his junior year.
irun wrote:
From an interview with German Fernandez on Dyestat.com:
6) There are a few "German Fernandez Stories" floating around the internet. One is that you stopped to tie your shoe at your league cross country finals after 800m, still hitting the mile at 4:45, and finished in 14:42. Another is that less than four months after returning from knee surgery, you ran 4:05 for 1500 then came back the next day with a 1:09 half marathon. True or false? And can you add a few details?
GF: Yes, I had to stop to tie my shoe at the league finals after 800 meters, and it was scary because I had never been in that situation before. Maybe that was why I ran so fast. And last year, four months after my surgery, I ran 4:05 for a 1500 and then, the next day, a half marathon in 1:09, which I really didn't enjoy. It was supposed to be my easy long run with my girlfriend Georgina Arnold. I started off at 6:30 pace, and then after that it became a race. I picked it up to a 5:19 pace, catching up to the leaders, and outkicked the last two older guys at the end to win it. After I finished, they told me I made it to nationals, and I'm like, "What? I can't go— if my coach finds out what I just did, he'll kill me (no joke)." So I gave my spot at nationals to the fourth guy who finished. Man, my legs were so burned out that I couldn't even walk. It was horrible. It took me two weeks to recover from that race, so yeah, it was pretty intense.
What is he talking about? Making it to Nationals? There is no national qualifying mark in the half marathon. What a bunch of crap