Would a Galen Rupp vs German Fernandez 5,000m race be the most antiicpated college match up ever?

Ohio St. vs Michigan

Duke vs North Carolina

Oklahoma vs Texas

Florida vs Georgia

Every year these are much more anticipated than Rupp vs Fernandez.

Geez, you make it sound like Rupp grew up with a butler and German grew up mining coal. If different sides of the track is upper middle class vs lower middle class, then yes, I guess you're right.

I don't think it would be the most anticipated college race ever, but it would certainly be a very big race. I would imagine a number of Pre's races were more anticipated than a Rupp/Fernandez matchup would be. And Pre generated the interest all by himself.

poster.... wrote:

No, it wouldn't be one of the most antiicpated showdowns.

Maybe one of the most anticipated showdowns though.

I think you meant to say something different?

letsrun.com wrote:

Geez, you make it sound like Rupp grew up with a butler and German grew up mining coal. If different sides of the track is upper middle class vs lower middle class, then yes, I guess you're right.

I think the OP meant how Rupp had Salazar and Nike and Fernandez had a high school coach.

Chris Wasnetsky wrote:

poster.... wrote:

No, it wouldn't be one of the most antiicpated showdowns.

Maybe one of the most anticipated showdowns though.

I think you meant to say something different?

I think you should go back and read what he wrote.

Chris Wasnetsky wrote:

I think the OP meant how Rupp had Salazar and Nike and Fernandez had a high school coach.

Strictly speaking, Salazar was also high school coach. Galen's high school requires a some number of service hours from parents of enrolled students and Salazar, whose kids went to the same school, served his helping with the cross country team.

Prefontaine vs. Ryun?

That had to be a pretty anticipated race, I would imagine.

No, spaz.

by the way.......neither may win it!

When did they run? XC Lindgren versus Pre was pretty much anticipated, but that seemed like a David and Goliath battle at the time of a redshirt senior veteran of the Olympics and the HS 2-Mile record holder. Hey wait that is the same thing as Rupp versus German.

Salazar was the head xc coach at Central Catholic when Rupp attended. Salazar's kids went to Jesuit in Beaverton.

It wouldn't be the most anticipated ever, but it probably would on this forum, and it would crash and be down for hours, of course.

i bet it would be up there.

i am sure padilla vs nayambui was pretty intense in their day when both were setting records.

Some recent notables

Rupp vs Chelanga XC

Hernandez vs Wheating 2008 800

Manzano vs Lomong 2007 1500

Willis vs Cragg 2004 3000

Not true. Alejandro Salazar went to Central and played soccer. He went on to play for the University of Portland.

Salazar has daughter at Jesuit now, though.

Hmm. This is some info from UP site back in 2002:

"Alejandro Salazar, the son of former world-record marathoner Alberto

Salazar, figures to pair with Jaqua up top after rolling up Oregon

and Metro League Player of the Year honors at Jesuit High School.

Salazar scored 33 goals his senior season, leading Jesuit to a

third-straight Oregon 4A championship.

Patrick Mooney teamed up front with Salazar at Jesuit, and was

all-Metro and second-team all-state."

Another fun fact: Salazar's daughter showed promise in CC for Jesuit, but apparently more into equestrian events.

Rupp vs Fernandez in the Pre mile in June -

that is the race of the year (at least until the world championships when Powell wins the 100M over Bolt).

dream race wrote:

Two of the best distance talents America has ever seen. Two kids who grew up on different sides of the tracks, and the two bet collegiate runners right now.

An 18 year old versus a 24 year old?

IAAF tables:

3:55.04=13:18.07

German Fernandez 3:55.02

Galen Rupp 13:18.12

Galen will have his hands very full come June when they finally go head-to-head.