Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Fernandez Wins 1,500 NCAA Semifinal
June 11, 2009 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
June 11, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Oklahoma State freshman standout German Fernandez won his semifinal heat in the 1,500 meters Thursday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a personal-best time of 3:41.39, and in doing so advanced to the final heat on Saturday afternoon.
“My goal was just to qualify and not to do anything crazy,” Fernandez said. “The conditions were great and I felt really good out there.”
Fernandez joins senior Ryan Vail as Cowboys to advance to the championship race in their respective events. Vail is in the 5,000-meter final with a shot to earn his second consecutive All America honor.
Fernandez's win comes at his first NCAA Track and Field Championships. The freshman elected not to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships in preparation for the Junior World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan.
“It was great being in a championship race like this,” Fernandez said. “I love being in front of a big crowd. It was a combination of nerves and excitement and I just wanted to bring that energy into me.”
Fernandez, who was named the Big 12 and Midwest Region Performer of the Year, moves to No. 3 on the all-time school list with his time, which was the fastest at Oklahoma State since 1997.
Oklahoma State returns to action Friday at the NCAA Championships, when Baiba Blumbaha, the school record holder in women's triple jump, competes in the qualifying round of the event at 3 p.m. For the men's team, Vail is scheduled to run in the 5,000-meter final at 8:40 p.m.
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Men's 1,500-Meter Run Final Qualifiers
(Top 12 overall times from three semifinal heats)
1 Craig Miller (Wisconsin)-3:39.36
2 German Fernandez (Oklahoma State)-3:41.39
3 Garrett Heath (Stanford)-3:44.22
4 Austin Abbott (Washington)-3:39.63
5 Michael Coe (California)-3:41.60
6 Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas)-3:44.58
7 Lee Emanuel (New Mexico)-3:39.91
8 Matthew Gibney (Villanova)-3:41.70
9 Liam Boylan-Pett (Georgetown)-3:44.86
10 Jeff See (Ohio State)-3:40.46
11 David McCarthy (Providence)-3:41.71
12 Jordan McNamara (Oregon)-3:42.09
Players Mentioned
