German Fernandez Is Tops!

It comes as no surprise, that after a season that included a California high school state championship and saw major records drop, German Fernandez was named the 2007-08 Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

The senior distance runner finished the 2008 season as the top-ranked high school runner in both the 1,600-meters and 3,200-meters. At the California Interscholastic Championships, Fernandez shattered the meet record (4:16.62), set in 2001 by the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trial Men’s Marathon champion Ryan Hall.

Fernandez also handles his business in the classroom and in the community. He maintained a 3.25 grade point average and donated his time as a youth basketball coach, in addition to serving as a race course monitor at the annual Riverbank Wine & Cheese Run, a charity associated with the Shadow Chase Running Club.

The Oklahoma State recruit, joins the likes of Alan Webb, Kerron Clement, Sanya Richards, and Allyson Felix in receiving the prestigious award. We can look for great things from this young phenom. Fernandez thrives on the big races and has instincts that you can not teach.

By Jay Hicks.