By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
FRESNO, Calif. - In the moment he had anticipated most; the instant all California distance running fans waited to see; the split second camera crews and photographers had positioned themselves securely for; German Fernandez fell in a heap.
He tripped, landed flat on his back which kicked up a pocket of dirt on the Woodward Park grass.
A few officials tried to offer Fernandez a helping hand, but the Riverbank High School senior hopped quickly to his feet and did what any good record-breaker would do.
He held up his index finger and jogged away.
The fall had occurred just as Fernandez crossed the finish line in Saturday's final race of the 21st CIF State Cross Country Championships.
After racing through the rolling 3.1-mile course on an unseasonably bright, clear and warm Central Valley day, Fernandez crossed that line in a startling time of 14 minutes, 24 seconds not only obliterating the state-meet record time of 14:45 set in 1989 by Agoura's Bryan Dameworth, but also the course record of 14:38 set in 1986 by San Diego's Marc Davis.
Everything about his race was flawless.
Except the trip.
But maybe that was because he'd left all his legs out on the course.
"The first mile I saw was 4:22 and I thought, `oh man, I'm going to be in trouble," Fernandez said. "The next mile was even better. Everything was real smooth. But then I started cramping up around my chest. Going into the last mile I wanted to stop. I'm not joking around, I was cramping up. But then I said to myself, `You know what? I'm already here. Let's see what I got."
He had more than any California runner - or any other prep runner who had run the course - in more than two decades.
He had a lot more.
National track and cross country expert Rich Gonzalez, editor of the immensely popular dyestatcal.com, was simply overwhelmed.
"He didn't just beat the record, he destroyed it," he said. "There's been some real special runners who have taken to this course. And he blew them all away. Incredible."
Gonzalez said the performance approaches one of track and field's all-time greatest national high school marks, an 8:36.2 two-mile time by Jeff Nelson of Burbank in 1979.
"That mark is legendary in the sport," Gonzalez said. "I think you have to mention German's time today in the same breath."
If nothing else, it sure put an exclamation point on a superlative meet that featured close to 2,000 runners and 8,000 spectators in the five-hour, 10-division format.
Fittingly, Fernandez' Division IV championship - he won by an astounding 1:34 over Palma-Salinas junior Tyre Johnson - was the last race of the day.
At least a pair of other possible national finalist defended their state titles in Mission Prep-San Luis Obispo junior Jordan Hasay and Woodbridge senior Christine Babcock.
Both set division records with Babcock taking her second straight D-II title in the day's fastest time of 17:04, bettering the previous mark of 17:13 set by Sara Bei (Montomery-Santa Rosa) in 2000. Babcock also bettered her previous best on the course at 17:20.
Hasay, who won the 2005 national championship as a freshman, broke her own mark of 17:11 by winning in 17:05, her third straight D-V title.
Other female winners were Davis senior Laurynn Chatalet (D-I, 17:18), St. Ignatius-San Francisco junior Katy Daly (D-III, 18:13) and Healdsburg senior Sarah Sumpter (D-IV, 17:26). All three were first-time state champs.
Female team champions were Saugus (D-I), Newport Beach (D-II), Orange Lutheran (D-III), Oaks Christian-Westlake Village (D-IV) and Mt. Shasta (Div. V),
Saugus, which got medals (top 10 finishes) from senior Rachel Lange and freshman Katie Dunn, is ranked No. 2 nationally by Harrier Magazine. It had the day's best team time (1:30.49) by well over two minutes over D-I runner-up Esperanza (1:33.02).
The team time also broke the previous team time record of 1:31.22 set in 2005 by Corona del Mar-Newport Beach. Other Saugus scorers were sophomore Amber Murakami, junior Anne Randall and junior Brianna Jauregni.
Besides Fernandez, other boy winners were Foothill junior Chris Schwartz (D-I, 15:13), Del Campo senior James Tracy (D-II, 15:23), Dublin senior James Attarian (D-III, 15:17), and Oakwood senior Aric Van Halen (D-V, 15:59).
Male team titles went to Dana Hills (D-I), Loyola-Los Angeles (D-II), Barstow (D-III), Big Bear (D-IV) and Woodcrest Christian (D-V).
In one of the best boys race of the day, Attarian edged defending D-III champion Mohamed Abdalla, of Willow Glenn, in the final 100 meters.
Abdalla is an unabashed self-proclaimed front-runner.
"I love to run out front," he said. "That's what I do and how I've always run."
Needless to say, he was in his comfort zone when he raced to the front of the pack in the first 800 meters.
He gained speed and confidence over the course and appeared utterly in control racing down the final quarter-mile straightaway of what he hoped was a second straight state title.
But while Abdalla hit the wall, Attarian hit his stride. With 100 meters to go, the second-year competitive runner passed Abdalla, who had nothing left but form and momentum.
Attarian crossed in 15:17 followed closely by Abdalla (15:20).
"I gave it my all but today it just wasn't enough," Abdalla said. "I ran my race but today he was a better man."
Dublin coach Ken Grace, who coached at CCSF from 1980 to 1995, said Attarian trailed Abdalla by 14 seconds at the halfway point.
"I just kept trying to cut into the lead," Attarian said. "When I finally saw him in the final straightaway I knew I had a shot. When I was on his heels I pretty much knew I had it. I figured I'd come this far so I went for it."
Fernandez will go for it next week in the West Regionals at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. His record-breaking performance should give him momentum.
"It gives me motivation too," Fernandez said. "It makes me feel like I can compete with the big boys. I just want to get there and qualify for nationals then give it my all to represent California and my hometown."
Riverbank is near Modesto in Stanislaus County.
He's become something of a celebrity there with a strong following called the "German Army."
After his performance on Saturday, about 50 onlookers followed his every move. Several asked for autographs. In a TV interview in front of his army, he thanked his teammates, coaches, family and girlfriend.
When asked about a goal time coming in, Fernandez said he had none. But what about times he had heard bantered about?
"I don't really pay attention to what people say," he said. "I just have to make it happen. I want to show up for the fans."
And when he hit the final straightaway and saw the time 14:14 in view, his cramps seemed to dissipate and focus came clearly into view.
"I'm there," he said to himself. "I have it (the record). I want it."
He did it.
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
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