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By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
SACRAMENTO – Maybe it was the spanking new all-white attire.
Maybe it was the unseasonably cool and overcast conditions.
Maybe it was just a light and relaxed and carefree attitude.
But not even German Fernandez himself could explain it.
On Friday night, a couple hours after the Riverbank senior breezed to an easy 1,600-meter victory in stellar time of 4 minutes, 7.62 seconds, Fernandez crossed the 3,200 finish line and literally did a double take at the electronic clock at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Sacramento City College.
It read 8:45.08.
In the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Track and Field Meet finals, a qualifier for next week’s state meet in Cerritos, the 2008 national leader in the event not only smashed his previous best by eight seconds, but he recorded the second fastest 3,200 race in California history, just off the mark of 8:44.95 set in 1986 by SJS comrade Eric Mastalir, of Jesuit-Carmichael.
The remarkable double came the same day another California runner, Christine Babcock, of Woodbridge (Irvine), set a national federation 1,600 record (4:36.57) in the Southern California Masters Meet.
There are seven other marks faster than Mastalir, but all are converted times from other distances. In a strict 3,200 race, only Mastalir is faster than Fernandez.
“I looked at the clock and said to myself, ‘I just ran that time?’ “ Fernandez said. “I couldn’t believe it. I don’t know what to say.”
There are few superlatives left when describing Fernandez’ senior season.
In November, the chiseled and angular standout obliterated two-decade state (21 seconds) and course records (14 seconds) while winning the CIF State Division IV Cross Country Championship at Woodward Park in Fresno.
“There was so much pressure going into that race to break the record,” Fernandez said. “This was completely different. I didn’t think anything could match that day. This is awfully close.”
After taking first at Foot Locker West Regionals and third at Foot Locker Nationals, in February he won the USATF Cross County Junior Nationals at Mission Park in San Diego.
Then last week he gained more national attention with a remarkable double in a SJS regional meet, going 4:05.57 and 9:00.10 under sweltering conditions in Modesto. (See story.)
“Last week I could feel the heat every step of the way,” Fernandez said. “Today the weather was about perfect.”
He said he was also inspired by the 2,000 or so fans, who stood and cheered most of his final lap of the 3,200.
“They were just going crazy and that inspired me to go even faster,” Fernandez said.
His distance and cross country coach Bruce Edwards certainly wasn’t encouraging Fernandez to push very hard and certainly not entertain state records.
The only real questions Edwards and Fernandez himself wanted answered was how would his legs respond to back-to-back races.
Sure he pulled off the remarkable double last week, but could he do it two weeks in a row? And the bigger question, would he attempt it three weeks straight.
They no doubt got their answer. Fernandez will attempt one of track’s most difficult doubles in a state renowned for great distance runners.
“Coach told me (before the 3,200) that running 9 flat was OK with him,” Fernandez said. “He then just said run like you feel.”
The Oklahoma State-bound star was in perfect rhythm all night. He wasn’t pushed at all, winning the 1,600 by just under eight seconds and the 3,200 by a whopping 21.56 seconds over Del Campo senior James Tracy, who would win most states with his 9:06.64 mark. (Tracy, by the way, shattered his qualifying mark of 9:33.19.)
“I ran the first mile in 4:24 and just felt great,” Fernandez said. “I ate well today. I was well rested. Everything was just right. I was just in the zone.”
What was he thinking about around the track? What did he hear?
“Everything was tuned out,” he said. “It was like in the movies when you just hear yourself running.”
His clean all-white shorts and tank top were straight out of Hollywood also. It was the first time he broke the set that he’d owned for more than a month.
“I saved it for a special event, for today,” he said.
So what in the world can he do for an encore? How does he top this next week in Cerritos?
“I don’t really know,” he said. “I just can’t get big-headed and expect this to happen again. “
Fernandez’ remarkable double set the tone for a truly remarkable meet that featured some eye-opening and heart-warming efforts.
They include a rare triple by Bencia senior Amber Purvis (100, 200 and long jump), a breakthrough mark by Davis 3,200 runner Laurynne Chetelat (10:05.95), a terrific 100 boys final between Edison’s William Henry (10.54) and Franklin-Elk Grove’s Gavin Banks (10.55) and truly inspired victories by Valley senior Michael Rideout (400, 48.46) and Woodcreek senior Cameron Mitchell (800, 1:54.15).
RIDEOUT WINS FOR FALLEN FRIEND: Valley (Sacramento) senior Michael Rideout couldn’t look. Just a couple feet away one of his best friends, Grant (Sacramento) senior Durwan Howard was curled up in a ball writhing in internal pain.
Howard, a teammate of Rideout on the Pacific United club squad, had moments before slipped out of the blocks in lane three and false started in the 400 finals. Howard was inconsolable.
“I heard the double-gun (for false starting) and saw the official go to his lane,” Rideout said. “I couldn’t even watch. It was painful to see. I was so mad and sad for him. I had to win for (Howard).”
Rideout did.
The long and lanky 6-foot-1, 157-pound standout made up the stagger quickly and went wire-to-wire, winning in 48.46. He barely held off Fairfield senior Brandon Dawson (48.59), Christian Brothers senior Asa Jackson (48.63) and Jesuit junior Tom Blocker (48.75).
“It’s hard to enjoy this right now,” he said holding the first-place medal. “I’m sure I will later but right now it just doesn’t feel that good.”
Rideout and Howard became friends during the fall working out for the club team.
“(Howard) and I talked about going to the state meet together,” Rideout said. “He’s worked so hard for this moment.”
After Howard was literally pulled from the starting infield area by coaches, he and Rideout met near the starting area to pick up their warm-ups. The two embraced. Howard still couldn’t speak. Rideout could.
“I told him to keep his head out and take it out in the (1,600) relay,” he told his friend.
Howard did.
His Grant teammates Willie Stallworth, Marvin Lamb and Boris Davis gave Howard a 5-meter cushion in the day’s final running event. Despite hard pushes all around, a determined and still emotional Howard never wavered as Grant prevailed in 3:21.27 followed by Christian Brothers (3:21.53), Jesuit (3:21.65), East Union (3:22.00), Fairfield (3:22.18), Sheldon (3:22.50) and Grace Davis (3:22.82). That’s seven teams almost within a second.
“It felt good (to finish first),” Howard said. “I just wanted to prove a point for myself. For my program. It’s been a tough day but it’s a good way to finish.”
Assistant Grant coach Oscar Haynes said it was heartbreaking to watch Howard’s false start. “Honestly, he probably would have won,” Haynes said. “He was that hungry. He’s worked that hard. He’s a real good kid. Bottom line is he’s still going to state. That’s a good thing.”
GIDDY UP: Like German, Davis distance runner Laurynne Chetelat ran calm and relaxed but after running a 10-second PR in the 3,200 she couldn’t contain her excitement.
The Stanford-bound senior won by more than 33 seconds, crossing in 10:05.95. It was the sixth fastest 3,200 in state history and third fastest time in the country this year.
“I’m so excited I can barely talk,” she said. “Now I know I can break 10 minutes.”
That means she believes she can compete with Southern California standout and former national cross country champion Jordan Hasay (Mission Prep, San Luis Obispo).
Chetelat told us last month at the Sacramento Meet of Champions that running with Hasay would help push her to new heights. She seemed satisfied with running with but not really challenging Hasay for a state crown.
Chetelat had a different tune and confidence after Friday’s race.
“I take back what I said (last month),” she said. “I feel like I can take (Hasay) on. I mean I’m not even rested up. I know I can go even faster.”
Hasay is the national leader this year at 10:03.07. She ran that time at the Arcadia Invitational when she edged Babcock (10:04.03) and Chetelat was a distant third (10:15.17).
“I would have been real happy just to break 10:10 today,” Chetelat said. “This proves so much to me.”
SPRINTER'S DELIGHT: When Franklin senior Gavin Banks leads late the party is over. William Henry had his own legacy and celebration in mind however.
The Edison-Stockton senior overtook the speedy and slight Banks in the final 20 meters and then held on for a spectacular win in the 100 that was too close to call by the naked eye.
Henry, a ripped 6-foot, 200-pounder, crossed in a wind-aided 10.54 seconds to 10.55 for Banks. Later the slight but strong 5-8, 155-pound Banks rebounded by winning the 200 in a career-best 21.30 over River City senior Greg Turner (21.51) and Henry (21.52).
Henry said the first person he was going to call Friday night was his older brother Chris, now a running back for the Tennessee Titans and former state 100 champion. William’s time bettered his brother’s state-winning mark of 10.56 in 2003.
“I’m going to call him and joke around and tell him that I’m faster than him now,” William said.
He had to overcome a relatively slow start with his natural top end speed to catch Banks, who was undefeated during the season until losing to Henry at a sub-sectional meet last week.
“He’s (Banks) really fast and has helped push me all along,” Williams said. “But I knew I had this in me. The last four years all I wanted to do was to make it to state like my brother.”
Henry was in the stands at Cerritos College when his older brother captured the state crown. Chris Henry starred at Arizona before being drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Titans. He rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns last season.
“After seeing Chris win state that makes me believe I can do it too,” William Henry said.
Banks hasn’t lost his confidence. He just got angry after the 100 and took it out on the 200 field.
“I really, really hate to lose,” said the soft-spoken Banks, headed to Davis on a track and field scholarship. “I was depressed a little bit after the (100) but realized there was nothing I could do about it. I ran my race in the 200.”
Banks believes he has a chance to win the state 200 and hopes to finish among the top three in the 100. He said new Franklin sprints coach Michael Dillard has keyed his vast improvement since his junior year.
“He’s made all the difference,” Banks said.
PURVIS TIME: It was hard to find Amber Purvis smiling around the track much last season.
The then Benicia junior was the defending state long jump champion and she had a couple of half-sisters by the same last name, Julian and Ashton, tearing up the track in Oakland.
“There’s a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations,” she said.
Far worse than those pressures was a nagging quad and groin injury that lingered since the Stanford Invitational. On top of that, her training wasn’t the best.
“I was a butterball,” she joked. “Last year was a hot mess.”
But after a brilliant three-victory performance on Friday, Purvis is smiling and laughing senior.
She surprised Franklin (Elk Grove) senior Kasey Rodgers, headed to Tulane on scholarship, to win the 100 in a lifetime best of 11.86. She breezed to the 200 title in 24.09 and also took the long jump (18-5½).
She dropped the 100 hurdles even though she had the third fastest qualifying mark coming in.
Her most surprising performance came in the 100, an event she rarely runs. She got out of the blocks quickly, took the lead and barely held of Rodgers (11.87) by one-hundredth of a second.
“I wanted to show my Oregon coaches I can run (the 100),” she said.
Purvis, one of the state’s top all-around athletes, has earned a ride to one of the nation’s top track and field programs. Though immensely talented, she said her success isn’t by accident.
“I’ve really had to work at everything,” she said.
She doesn’t mind rewarding herself though. Her favorite after every sectional race is a trip to In-N-Out Burger.
“A cheeseburger, French fries and a pink lemonade,” is her regular order. “Today I might have two cheeseburgers.”
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
