Fernandez caps state meet with all-time course record

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Before I get to the next-to-last race here at the state cross-country finals, I’ve must fast forward to the meet-ending Division IV boys’ championship.

German Fernandez, a senior from Riverbank, just smashed the all-time course record by eight seconds, winning the 5,000-meter race in 14:24. The previous course record was set at a non-state meet event by Marc Davis of San Diego High in 1986. Fernandez blew through the opening mile in 4:28 and covered the last mile in 4:40.

I remember two years ago, when Fernandez pulled a big upset in the Division IV state championships, beating Chad Hall of Big Bear by 37 seconds. Fernandez won that race in 15:14, which remains the second-fastest time by a sophomore at the state finals.

Big Bear won the Division IV team title for the second straight season, as Alberto Solis led the way with a third-place finish in 15:44.

Now, back to the next-to-last race.

Orange Lutheran continued a strong day for Southern Section teams, winning the Division III girls’ race with 85 points and ending Corona del Mar’s two-year reign. The Sea Kings finished fifth with 181 points.
Katy Daly of St. Ignasius won the individual title in Division III in 18:13.

And that’s a wrap from Woodward Park, where Southern Section runners won only two individual titles -- Aric Van Halen of Oakwood in boys’ Division V and Christine Babcock of Woodbridge in girls’ Division II --
but the section’s teams fared much better, winning nine of 10 team titles.

-- Dan Arritt