Fernandez named USATF Athlete of the Week
Posted Wednesday, 4 June, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS - German Fernandez has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after shattering a national record and state meet record in the 3200 meter run, and a state meet record in the 1,600 meter run Saturday at the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships in Cerritos, Calif.
A senior at Riverbank High School, Fernandez dominated the boy's 1,600m and 3,200m runs, crossing the finish line in 4 minutes 00.29 seconds and 8:34.23 respectively.
In the 1,600m Fernandez finished over nine seconds ahead of the runner-up Raul Arcos of Corona (4:09.65). His performance broke the CIF state meet record (4:02.62) of 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - Men's Marathon champion Ryan Hall, set in 2001. Fernandez's time was only .78 seconds away from the National Federation of High Schools record (3:59.51) set in 2001 by the current American record holder in the mile Alan Webb.
Fernandez secured his second record breaking performance later in the day when he crushed the competition in the 3,200m, finishing over 24 seconds ahead of the runner-up Chris Schwartz of Foothill (8:58.50). Fernandez's performance broke the NFHS record (8:41.10) set in 2000 by Dathan Ritzenhein, who was the runner-up in the 2008 Olympic Trials - Men's Marathon. Fernandez's time also broke a 25 year old CIF state meet record (8:44.9h) set by the late Eric Hulst in 1975.
Elsewhere, 2007 World Outdoor 400 meter silver medalist LaShawn Merritt ran a world leading time in winning the men's 400m Sunday at the DKB-ISATF Berlin meeting at Germany's Olympic stadium. Merritt's 400m time clocked in at 44.03 seconds, .04 seconds ahead of runner-up Jeremy Wariner, the reigning Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion, who finished in 44.07 seconds. For Merritt to remain in contention for the $1 million jackpot, he must win the men's 400m in the five remaining meetings of the 2008 IAAF Golden League.
Now in its seventh year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2008 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 8, Cheryl Foody; January 16, Nick Vena; January 22, Chanelle Price; January 29, Antwon Hicks; February 5, Adam Nelson; February 12, Lolo Jones; February 19, Adam Nelson; February 27, Michael Rodgers; March 3, Thomas Morgan; March 11, Bryan Clay; March 18, Bianca Knight; March 25, Phil Raschker; April 1, Orville Rogers; April 8, Lisa Koll; April 15, Ryan Hall, April 22, Deena Kastor; April 29, Leo Manzano; May 6, Shalane Flanagan; May 13, Bonnie Richardson; May 20, Jenn Stuczynski; May 27, Chanelle Price; June 3, German Fernandez.
BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING JUNE 1, 2008
MEN
100 - 9.85 Tyson Gay (adidas) - New York, NY 5/31 U.S. leader
200 - 20.07 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31
400 - 44.03 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Berlin, GER 6/1 World leader
800 - 1:45.55 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31 U.S. leader
1500 - 3:37.81 Lopez Lomong (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31
3000SC - 8:28.21 Steve Slattery (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31
5000 - 13:30.95 Josh Rohatinsky (Nike) - Portland, OR 5/31
10,000 - 27:55.66 Fasil Bizuneh (New Balance) - Neerpelt, BEL 5/31
110H - 13.11 Terrence Trammell (Mizuno) - New York, NY 5/31
400H - 48.40 Kerron Clement (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31
HJ - 2.31/7-7 Dusty Jonas (Nebraska) - Lincoln, NE 5/30
PV - 5.71/18-8.75 Jeff Hartwig (Nike) - Jonesboro, AR 5/31
LJ - 8.02/26-3.75 Miguel Pate (Nike) - Berlin, GER 6/1
TJ - 16.76/55-0 Shardae Boutte (Oklahoma) - Lincoln, NE 5/31
SP - 21.29/69-10.25 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - New York, NY 5/31
DT - 66.17/217-1 Ian Waltz (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31
HT - 73.11/239-10 Cory Martin (Auburn) - Fayetteville, AR 5/30
JT - 81.14/266-2 Mike Hazle (unat) - Berlin, GER 6/1
WOMEN
100 - 10.94 Marshevet Hooker (adidas) - New York, NY 5/31
200 - 22.43 Bianca Knight (adidas) - New York, NY 5/31
400 - 50.04 Sanya Richards (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31
800 - 2:00.77 Alysia Johnson (California) - Northridge, CA 5/31
1500 - 4:07.62 Amy Mortimer (Reebok) - New York, NY 5/31
3000SC - 9:37.00 Anna Willard (Nike) - Indianapolis, IN 5/31 U.S. leader
5000 - 14:58.48 Lauren Fleshman (Nike) - New York, NY 5/31 U.S. leader
10,000 - 31:26.48 Kara Goucher (Nike) - Portland, OR 5/31
100H - 12.57 Lolo Jones (Asics) - Berlin, GER 6/1
400H - 54.69 Queen Harrison (Virginia Tech) - Tallahassee, FL 5/31
HJ - 1.93/6-4 Chaunte Howard (Nike) - Berlin, GER 6/1
PV - 4.80/15-9 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - New York, NY 5/31
LJ - 6.40/21-0 Ashika Charan (Texas A&M) - Lincoln, NE 5/30
TJ - 13.41/44-0 Toni Smith (Oklahoma) - Lincoln, NE 5/31
SP - 17.60/57-9 Susan King (Memphis) - Fayetteville, AR 5/30
DT - 63.70/209-0 Becky Breisch (HPTC) - New York, NY 5/31
HT - 66.73/218-11 Britney Henry (adidas) - New York, NY 5/31
JT - 55.15/180-11 Rachel Yurkovich (Oregon) - Northridge, CA 5/31
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