German Fernandez is coming back, now 3:43

Fernandez's travails have highlighted the problem with injuries. Depending on the type and severity they can set an athlete back for a long time. Some athletes, unfortunately, never regain their old self. I hope that this is the start of an extended recovery for German. I'll never forget his performance(s) at the Cal. State Meet. It's one of those legendary feats that you tell your kids about.

jjjjjjjj wrote:

he ran 13:25 as a freshman at 18/19 at OSU.

downhill ever since

Can he make the Olympic team?

ALLLL ABOARRRRD THE GF BANDWAGON

So this is why Diego Estrada was thinking of running for Mexico. He can't handle the thought of a fit Fernandez roaming the streets. He' s still shit scared of German after that 30 second WHOOPING he took at CA state meet back in the day.

wow that suckls wrote:

wow that really sucks. he ran 3:55 for the mile back in 2009. why is he running like an equivalent of 7-8 seconds SLOWER 3 years later?

he'll dnf at nationals (if he even makes them)

1) You're not funny or cool, you're just plain stupid.

2) That's just under a 7 second difference, and def not 8. If you're going to be an ass you might as well be right.

This is a very encouraging race. I wouldn't be surprised to see him drop a 3:40 or under before the season is over which would be a great step back.

Almost anyone who saw him race back in 2009 would have said, "Hell yea, he could do it in 2012!" The way this guy raced and ran was incredibly impressive and had some kind of desperate quality to it that was both coercing and almost provocative in its style. Prefontaine had it, as do a few others. You know it, when you see it! I think what troubles most of us who have spent a lot of time in this sport ourselves running and racing, is that when you see something not come to it's natural fruition, it's painful! There is more there within, much more! The real question is; How deep is he willing to reach, to get at it once again? If its not important to his mind, then its not going to be important to his body, no matter how hard he trains!

Wow, 3:43 hold the presses!!!!

Say it aint so wrote:

So this is why Diego Estrada was thinking of running for Mexico. He can't handle the thought of a fit Fernandez roaming the streets. He' s still shit scared of German after that 30 second WHOOPING he took at CA state meet back in the day.

Silly post, of course.

But here's the 3200 CA state meet results for 2008:

1 Fernandez, G 12 Riverbank 8:34.23

2 Schwartz, Chri Foothill (Bakers 8:58.50

3 Tracy, James 12 Del Campo 9:00.01

4 Estrada, Diego 12 Alisal 9:04.80

And the 2007 CA State 5k XC combined results:

1 1336 SJS German Fernande SR Riverbank 14:24 4:38

2 363 CS Chris Schwartz JR Foothill 15:13 4:54

3 1894 SS Riley Sullivan SR Trabuco Hills 15:14 4:54

4 624 NCS James Attarian SR Dublin 15:17 4:56

5 243 CCS Mohamed Abdalla SR Willow Glen 15:20 4:57

6 1866 SS Brett Walters SR Sultana 15:21 4:57

7 1253 SJS James Tracy SR Del Campo 15:23 4:57

8 986 SDS Bret Hasvold SR Fallbrook 15:24 4:58

9 1512 SS Tyler Valdes JR Dana Hills 15:25 4:58

10 1498 SS Zack Torres JR Crescenta Valley 15:25 4:58

11 1422 SS Anthony Solis SR Barstow 15:27 4:59

12 1845 SS Steven Crum SR Santiago/corona 15:29 4:59

13 1908 SS David McDonald SR Vista Murrieta 15:29 4:59

14 1399 SS Jose Madera SO Anaheim 15:31 5:00

15 1642 SS Jose Lezama JR Leuzinger 15:31 5:00

16 1716 SS David McCuthche SR Murrieta Valley 15:33 5:01

17 284 CS Jonathan Sanche JR Buchanan 15:33 5:01

18 1 CCS Diego Estrada SR Alisal 15:34 5:01

Way to go, Diego!

Hope the real German is on his way back.

Wow, I only recognize maybe one other name on that list. I guess that it was tough to predict that in 2012, the only Olympic A or B standard guy on this list would be Estrada...

German had a terrific coach in high school who trained him well. Diego may not have had that, which could explain his dramatic improvement in college.

It's nice to see German back and running well. There are so many haters on these boards, hating for no reason. I hope Fernandez can continue to stay healthy, keep improving and have a successful finish to his collegiate career. The sport of American distance running is better when German Fernandez is running well.

Maybe the success of guys like Estrada or Levins will inspire some runners who were at the same level coming out of school.

I don't think German has done anything on the international stage yet. Heck, he is barely visible at the national level. However, he does get injured a lot just like his fellow American runners. I wonder what kind of workouts American distance runners do to get injured so often.

This is an extremely well written paragraph that I agree with wholeheartedly: "Almost anyone who saw him race back in 2009 would have said, "Hell yea, he could do it in 2012!" The way this guy raced and ran was incredibly impressive and had some kind of desperate quality to it that was both coercing and almost provocative in its style. Prefontaine had it, as do a few others. You know it, when you see it! I think what troubles most of us who have spent a lot of time in this sport ourselves running and racing, is that when you see something not come to it's natural fruition, it's painful! There is more there within, much more! The real question is; How deep is he willing to reach, to get at it once again? If its not important to his mind, then its not going to be important to his body, no matter how hard he trains!"

^^^kudos to the author.

Riley edged out German today at the Big 12 Championships:

1 Riley Masters JR Oklahoma 3:43.48

2 German Fernandez JR Oklahoma State 3:43.70

3 Patrick Casey JR Oklahoma 3:43.78

4 Kirubel Erassa FR Oklahoma State 3:43.99

5 Raul Botezan JR Oklahoma State 3:44.08

6 Eric Harasyn SR Oklahoma 3:44.42

7 Edward Kemboi SO Iowa State 3:46.81

8 Shane Moskowitz SO Oklahoma State 3:49.12

...also Paulo Pinheiro won the 10,000m at Conference USA on Friday.

...and the 5,000m