byLarry Eder
Even with German’s dynamic double yesterday, his eyes are focused on Amman, Jordan and the World Cross Country Championships! Photo by PhotoRun.net. German Fernandez will be fun to watch this spring over 5,000 meters ! I see a 13:10 soon in his future!
College Station, Texas, USA, February 28 – German Fernandez, an 18-year-old Californianwho attends Oklahoma State University, won the Big 12 Championships mile in 3:55.02 and returned to the track three hours later to win the 3,000m in 7:.57.71.
The times certainly are excellent for an 18year-old, but more impressive was the seeming effortlessness of Fernandez’ runs. He led from the gun in the mile and won by more than 9 ½ seconds, clicking off successive quarter miles in 58,6, 58.4, 59.3 and 58.7. In the 3,000 he shared the pace with others, then soloed the last kilometer in 2:30.62.
Fernandex, having established himself as favorite for the NCAA mile two weeks from now on this same track, has reportedly opted to run instead in the IAAF World Junior Cross-country Championships in Jordan, Amman, on the same weekend. The NCAA’s loss will be the IAAF’s gain.
The women’s mile was almost at the same level of performance, though much more hotly contested Jennifer Barringer, a University of Colorado student who finished ninth in the Beijing 3,000m steeplechase, ran most of the way with Kenyan Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech, then cruised through a 1:03.8 final 440 yards to a 20-metre victory in 4:25.81, a collegiate record.
Other impressive performances were turned in by Desiree Hooker (younger sister of Olympic 200m finalist Marshevet) and Porscha Lucas. Miss Hooker won the high jump with a 1.94 pb, then had two good misses at 1.98; and Miss Lucas won the 200 meters with the year’s second fastest time, 22.94.
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Special thanks to James Dunaway and the IAAF.
For more on the IAAF, please click http://www.iaaf.org
