So just as the collegiate and professional athletes nowadays are stepping up their game, so to speak, it seems there is a parallel occurance in the pre-amateur, prep athletes in America, and I couldn't help but feel the need to recognize it all. So what does everyone think is the best performance this year/season by a prep athlete? Here are what I think are some great nominees, in no particular order:
Chris Derrick's 13:55 5000m, where he ran the last 2 miles(3200m?) of it in 8:49. That's pretty insane if it is indeed true.
Chanelle Price's 2:02.90 national prep record 800m run, winning the state meet by 10 seconds.
Christine Babcock's 4:36 national 1600m prep record, eclipsing the previous one by almost 2 seconds.
German Fernandez' 4:07/8:45 1600m/3200m double at the southern section meet. Can't imagine what he could do in a 2 mile or 5000m later this season.
Joe Franklin's 1:48.97 800m, the fastest prep 800m time in the nation this year.
Jordan Hasay's 4:17 1500m at the Cardinal Invite, finishing 10th in a field of some of the nationa's best 1500m runners.
I'll leave it up to the readers and posters to come up with any performances on the track I have not read about. I think a lot of those performances are equally great, but I would have to go with German Fernandez' 4:07/8:45 double as the best performance, because I can't imagine what he could've done if he wouldn't have run the 4:07 prior to the 3200m. Pretty awesome feet, and I think if Fernandez, Derrick, and Puskedra could get together for a 3200m sometime this season, the Jeff Nelson's 3200m/2mile record could be in serious danger. Look at the times those three have posted this season:
Derrick: 8:49, 13:55
Puskedra: 8:46
Fernandez: 8:45
Here's to wishing and hoping.