German Fernandez Effort in XC

I personally enjoy threads on GF and CD. I was at Stanford last year as a grad student and had many opportunities to watch Chris in workouts and races. He's a classy, intelligent, self-aware runner who is a monster when the time comes. He has consistently improved over the past few years, from a freshman phenom into one of the NCAA's best and possibly one of the US's best. I cheer for him and his teammates whenever they toe the line.

That said, whether you're banking on him or not, German inspires awe. Here is a kid who ran some mind-boggling races as a freshman, and only really stepped to the line healthy one time as a sophmore. And yet here were are debating whether this kid can take down guys like Derrick, McNeil, and Chelanga. Just like those fighters who can drop an opponent with one shot, German is the type of runner who you have to be aware of, because at any moment he might show up and drop the hammer on those runners who have been dominant all year.

As far as Monday goes, I would expect to see Derrick rolling along with Riley and Heath in the top 10-12, with the trio making a move in the final 3K to place in the top 10. I don't think Derrick is going to make a solo move this year like he did last, and even if he did, I don't know if he'll be able to gap his teammates--so it may not look like the solo move many hope to see. I suspect that German and Colby will run together in that same area(behind Macheso, top 10-12), and their move may come at about the same point. And that fact is, that aside from Chelanga and McNeil, German might very well be the best of the rest.

I agree that German seems different in his interviews this season, but I think he's being cautious regarding his optimism--wouldn't you with those previous performances at Nationals?

When the dust settles, I expect the top 10 to have 2-3 Cardinal jerseys and 2-3 bright orange jerseys. How they line up is why we're all going to be watching so intently...

warrior revolution wrote:

When the dust settles, I expect the top 10 to have 2-3 Cardinal jerseys and 2-3 bright orange jerseys. How they line up is why we're all going to be watching so intently...

did you just get laid or someting? Enough of this positivity.

Lets all be honest XC is a sport that really is worth NOTHING! it means NOTHING! Track is the main sport for runners, XC is just a way to stay in shape and not lose interest, to keep your mental edge sharp. If our economy does not get better you will see alot of XC programs get dropped, and no will care about it either. XC is not an Olympic sport so there is no reason to kill yourself over it. If anything the only thing that comes with this sport is bragging rights. AJ Acosta could really care less, his 3:53 mile is worth more then anything he run in XC. Every runner at XC Nats would lick AJ's nuts to just have a taste of what it is like to be a 3:53 mile, just as they would be happier to be a 13:30 5000M runner. Bottom line is WHO CARES ABOUT XC!? And for the just plain idiots who wants these talented kids to max out and peak out in college, go back to your cave. You guys have these expectations that are so high, that CD and GF should be running 12:45/26:45 times by graduation. get real morons.

Very funny sir!

Good stuff.

I agree. That make GF the best. At 18 he is NCAA 1500-meter champ. And the challenges Americas best at 5K and runs 13:25. Not bad for a 18-year that all you nay sayers say who say he has no passion, sucks, etc, etc.

Like I've post before all these runner have up and down seasons and years. In 39 years following this sport every great runner has had his ups and down. No exceptions. It's part of the running deal. You pound yourself twice aday, almost every day and the body breaks down.

Lets just next Monday all the stars aline perfectly and all the top runners have great races. That will make for a great and fun outcome for individuals and team results.

Uh Huh wrote:

AJ Acosta could really care less, his 3:53 mile is worth more then anything he run in XC. Every runner at XC Nats would lick AJ's nuts to just have a taste of what it is like to be a 3:53 mile

Beggars can't be choosers.

If that's all he can run is a mile, he might as well think it's something great.

I will leave the ball licking to you.

yuck no thank you wrote:

Beggars can't be choosers.

If that's all he can run is a mile, he might as well think it's something great.

I will leave the ball licking to you.

El G cries himself to sleep because he was not better at cross country.

I think you forget that AJ was a Footlocker XC champ in high school. If he wanted, he could easily be a top ten runner at Nationals, however he has chosen to focus more on training as a miler throughout college and it is very difficult to be great at both.

But I'm probably replying to a troll anyways. oh well.

Uh Huh wrote:

Lets all be honest XC is a sport that really is worth NOTHING! it means NOTHING! Track is the main sport for runners...

Nonsense--XC builds character. I coached a kid several years ago. As a freshman he barely broke into the top 100 at the state meet. His sophomore year he finished 3rd. And what was his response? He almost cried because his team only took 4th (he was our only boy in the top 20). In that moment he showed his true character. Over the next year he pushed his teammates, and a year later he led them to the school's first ever state championship (he won the race, his brother took 3rd, and we put 4 in the top 10).

Chris Derrick responded the same way last season, and you can see how he has raised the level of his teammates. That's the beauty of this sport. Of course, the above quote is likely from a self-centered American who runs for the roar of the crowd and has no realization that the Kenyans and Ethiopians fight tooth and nail for a spot on their country's world XC teams. The reasons these countries are so great--they live, train, and race together (even on the track, as the Ethiopian Olympic 10K "team" has shown year after year).

American running has been elevated by running teams at the professional level. The model is based on cross country teams--a group of great runners pushing each other to higher levels. The inability of people in this country to recognize that great things are done collectively is astounding.

aside from the fact that they're not just running laps on a track, xc is special because it is the one event where everyone competes in the same race. the winner is the best distance runner in the ncaa. individual track champions cannot say that because the distance competition is watered down by having five different events.

German is the next Ryan Hall

He is already focused on just training and for some future event under conditions that aren't going to happen...

German will finish in the mid to high 20's at best with a plethora of reasons why, just like Ryan Hall

Except Fernandez is 10x better than Ryan Hall. Ryan Hall ran 3:42.70 at the same age Fernandez ran 3:39/3:55yi.

Fernandez also ran 13:25 as an 18yr old when Hall ran 13:22 as a 21/22yr old. Incomparable. How you managed to come up with that analysis is synonymous with someone who knows nothing. Luckily for you, you are but one bison in a herd, so continue mindlessly following the majority's stupidity on this site and maybe one day you'll be #1 retard.

douchebags wrote:

I don't know if anyone can beat Sam Chelenga, but I think if anyone's going to upset, it will be German Fernandez. I have never seen anyone run with balls like German. no homo of course. When he ran the greatest distance double in HS history, pure balls. When he ran that XC state meet record, pure balls. When he won NCAA 1500m from start to finish, bowling ball sized balls. When the only people to beat him where Bolota, Jager, Teg and Solinsky, balls the size of Alaska.

........GOODNESS GRACIOUS GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!!!

nicely put - bravo

I certainly hope so. I was not trying to slam any of the runners. I specifically cited their continuing amazing level of talent. However, runners HAVE gained. See Colby Lowe, Girma Mecheso for example. Derrick and Fernandez are still ridiculously good, but they have not reached the ridiculous expectations people placed upon them their senior and freshmen years.

To jjjj: I wouldn't necessarily say that the winner of this meet is the "best" distance runner. The distance is a predetermined one that equals a 10k on the track, the difference? There's some hills, grass, whatever added in. I've always wondered why the "distance" in XC isnt set to either a distance that is truly fair for both ends (milers vs. 10k'ers) such as a 4 mile race. 8k-10k favors who you'd think it would favor, the 5-10k runners. Personally, I agree with some of the assessments here about XC sort of acting as "busy" work until track season comes around. For the 10'kers, yes it's a good start,beginning to their season as a whole, but for milers, I'd personally say they're better off doing simulations of XC, or 10mile tempos to get the equivalent aerobic benefits, rather then "revealing character" to only run a 32-33 min 10k.

Back to the original idea, this race shows who's the best 10k runner, because the race is one that is often contested... but I dare ask a meet to hold a 4 mile race, and you'll truly see a battle of mid-d runners vs. distance runners, because both should be able to hold their own. A 5mile race is just to long for some milers, and is more closely suited for a 10k runner. Either way, XC has had a good mental breakthrough aspect to it which makes running the mile,3k alot easier, but I find it funny people assume XC to be this "race of the specialists" because the distance tends to be geared more towards the 5k-10k guys, as compared to the milers and steeplechasers.

Anbessa

I love how you ppl act like you know his body better than him and his coach.

Why is cross country so important in the NCAA but not important on the world stage (for Americans)?

Jacobp wrote:

I love how you ppl act like you know his body better than him and his coach.

german was running too fast but we have succeeded in slowing him down. this was our plan all along.