German Fernandez had a very good race

A top 10 finish is legit. While I am sure everyone would love to see him up with Derrick, German came out, ran tough and led his team to a second place finish. Criticize him all you want, but his team won three trophies in his four years. Impressive.

He came in as the top freshman in the country, with most people expecting he would re-set many American collegiate rconds. As it turned out, Derrick and Puskedra had much better collegiate careers than German. His overall performances have been a disappointment in my opinion. How many national XC championships did he win over the last four years?

German has certainly struggled with consistency, but he has two NCAA team titles, and an NCAA individual title.

Derrick hasn't won a team or individual title.

Puskedra, I think, won the team title as a freshman, but has no individual titles.

German has had more peaks and valleys than the other two, but his peaks have been pretty high.

Willfully Here wrote:

As it turned out, Derrick and Puskedra had much better collegiate careers than German. His overall performances have been a disappointment in my opinion. How many national XC championships did he win over the last four years?

He won zero individual national XC championships, the same as when he was in high school. He does have two top 10s and two team titles, pretty damn good. I never understood why people thought he would be this dominant force in collegiate XC, he wasn't in high school.

He won zero individual national XC championships, the same as when he was in high school. He does have two top 10s and two team titles, pretty damn good. I never understood why people thought he would be this dominant force in collegiate XC, he wasn't in high school.

People expected him to be dominant because of the fact that after that cross country meet, he improved 35 seconds in the 3200. He then was in 3rd prior to hurting his achilles as a true freshman after moving up much like he did today. He then destroyed both Derrick and Puskedra at USA Jr.

With that said, he is the same talent, but not the same runner that he was in 2008-2009. It's ironic, and people make fun of him for falling, but really, his freshman nationals was probably the most competitive he's ever been at nationals.

Stuck with match.com wrote:

He had a very good race, he came back after some setbacks the fast few years. I give him a lot of credit for all American run today. Great work German and good luck on a pro career.

Don't wish him luck just yet. Still got track to go. Hopefully he can stay healthy and improve on his freshman times.

haha YO wrote:

He won zero individual national XC championships, the same as when he was in high school. He does have two top 10s and two team titles, pretty damn good. I never understood why people thought he would be this dominant force in collegiate XC, he wasn't in high school.

I always saw him as more a mid distance runner and it is rare for that talent to translate to the top 10k races. There are only so many times when everything comes together perfectly and one of those times happened for GF when he was 18/19. Maybe in a couple years, he will have another run of great races. It is nearly impossible to be at the very top for long stretches of time.

splits wrote:

He then was in 3rd prior to hurting his achilles as a true freshman after moving up much like he did today.

No he wasn't.

I think German also broke the state XC course record, didn't he? Which is pretty impressive in California.

I would say he didn't have a bad race, which is good.

Nice to see stuck not bash somebody and be nice

Despite the ups and downs, I still think I'd take German's career over the other two.

Derrick and Puskedra both have more top 10 finishes than German in NCAA XC and track events, but who gives a shit?

German has two team XC titles, an individual NCAA track title, a US junior record in the 5000, a World Junior record in the mile, and, if that wasn't enough, a couple of XC all-america certificates and an XC team runner up trophy to round out his collection.

Puskedra has one team title in XC and that's it. No records, no individual wins, etc. Heck, his team didn't even make it this year.

Derrick always finishes in the top handful of runners at NCAA XC and track events, but he has never won a major NCAA race. He saw German snatch the US 5k junior record from him. His teams have come into several NCAA XC meets as favorites and bombed.

Give me German's up and down resume any day. Haters will hate. I'm excited to see what German can do in indoor and outdoor. He seems to be on the upswing again - he might add an NCAA title or two before its all said and done.

haha YO wrote:

splits wrote:

He then was in 3rd prior to hurting his achilles as a true freshman after moving up much like he did today.

No he wasn't.

You obviously were not there. He was WAY back and moving up fast.

This is the closest video that I could find. He moved to the front of that pack (that's 3rd with Puskedra) before he went down.

can some one explain why we keep starting GF threads when he wasn't even the fastest on his team?

because i need all the attention i can get

For not running for two months in the summer, I'd have to say that's a pretty impressive run. You think anybody who finished ahead of him didn't run for two months during the summer?

Did anyone ever think that he was out there more for the team than himself. Those going for the team title can't take big risks.

Last time I looked GF still held the US Junior 5,000 record at 13:25--pretty good.

Montesquieu wrote:

Last time I looked GF still held the US Junior 5,000 record at 13:25--pretty good.

True, but his INDOOR, SOLO 3:55 mile was better. And that is why I agree with others, that 10k x-c was never going to be his specialty. However, yes, if he had been completely healthy the last few years, one would have hoped he would have been up there with Derrick. But alas, he has not been healthy.

He is still only barely 21 (birthday this month). Let's hope he is healthy now and progresses.