Fernandez May Skip NCAA Indoor For World Cross

(T&FN special report)

by Jon Hendershott

German Fernandez has been setting the track afire in his frosh campaign at Oklahoma State.

The 18-year-old superstar produced a stunning indoor debut with his 3:56.50 mile in late January, the fastest-ever indoor time by any Junior miler.

Then last weekend, the Californian used a competitive 3000 on Washington’s big oversized track to clock a PR 7:47.97, an all-conditions indoor American Junior Record.

But Cowboy coach Dave Smith says he and Fernandez are considering having him skip the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Why? Because between his two superb track races, he won the U.S. Junior cross country title to qualify for his second World Champs, scheduled for March 28 in Amman, Jordan.

“German’s No. 1 goal as been to make the Junior team and go to Worlds, “Smith says. Fernandez was the top U.S. Placer last year in 25th. “He wanted a couple of competitive races before Worlds, which he got in the mile and 3K.

“Now, he wants to help the team at the Big 12 Championships [February 27-28]. He’s a real team guy. Then we’ll make a decision about the NCAA.

“I worry about him doing too much, even as crazy as it sounds to miss the NCAA Indoor. But he has some big goals for the 5000 outdoors this spring. And he also is very intent about keeping up with his classwork.”

Smith says their caution was heightened during last fall’s collegiate harrier season. Fernandez had a great debut year, winning the conference title and taking 5th at the Midwest Regional to help team winner OSU advance to the NCAAs.

But in Terre Haute, Fernandez suffered a calf injury late in the race and didn’t finish. That ailment is totally healed now, but neither coach nor athlete want to press too hard in Fernandez’s first collegiate track season.