My take on it wrote:
Jim Ryun was great at the mile, but had no range. Fernandez is great at the mile, and is talented up through the half marathon.
What's his best half marathon?
At age 17 Ryun had run 4:01.7, 3:59.0 and 3:39.0
At age 18y 1 mo. Ryun ran 3:58.3 in his State meet on a crappy cinder track. Then ran 3:58.1, 3:56.8 and 3:55.3, the latter was the American Record (not AJR) and defeating Olympic Champion Peter Snell in the process.
Ryun set the WR at the 880, 1500, and Mile(twice), plus he set the WR (3:56) in the indoor mile. He also set the AR in the two-mile easily beating Kip Keino, the World record-holder at 3000m (7:39) at the time.
For kicks, Ryun ran a 13:38 5000.
There is no comparison at all between Ryun and Fernandez.
German Fernandez is one of the best freshman runners the US has had in ages, but he's not even up to where Tom Byers was at the same stage in his career. Nor has Fernandez actually beaten anyone of significance. So forget about comparing Fernandez to Ryun -- he doesn't even compare to Byers!. As a Freshman, Byers won both the US Senior and Junior National titles in the 1500. I'm not sure if anyone else has ever accomplished that feat in any event?
So answer me this?
Who has Fernandez ever beaten in a race?
What's his best 800, 1500, mile, 2 mile?
How many world records does he have?
How many world record holders has he beaten?
How many Olympic champions has he beaten?
How many national champions has he beaten?