Well, the USA has again produced a terrific stand out junior athlete and they have reason to be excited but how excited?
How good is German Fernandez and what has he done to be considered as a World Junior Record Holder and what are his credentials?
There is absolutely no doubt that the young athlete has talent and that he certainly has a future. But, the last time the country screamed about a talent it was the young athlete with the name Allan Webb, who many would say is yet to fulfil his potential.
And that potential is measured by performances on the World's greatest stages, the Olympics and the World Athletic Track Championships.
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To date Webb is yet to show the same ability when up against the world's best when it counts most. His naivety on occasions has been exposed and yet he still possesses the ability to show flashes of brilliance to give the US public hope that he will deliver on his immense talent as well as plaudets many have spoken up for him already.
Fernandez is no longer a school kid but now a college athlete from which much is expected and this weekend he was able to deliver when setting a new World Indoor Record over the mile distance.
A short two months after slightly tearing his Plantaris tendon in his calf Fernandez broke the world junior indoor record in the mile run in one of the fastest times in collegiate history.
The 18-year-old Fernandez was timed at 3:56.5 when setting a world and United States record in the process. The previous American record was set by Jim Ryun in 1966 in a time of 3:59.6 and the former world record was held by Geoffrey Rono of Kenya with a time of 3:58.6. Rono set the record in 2006.
These are fine stats and I am hopeful that Fernandez does not prove to be a 'time-trial' specialist who performs well when he knows he is better than his opposition.
The only recent example of how the athlete responds under pressure was in the cross country event where he pulled out injured with less than a kilometer to go.
Talent is fine and the fanfare that follows is exciting. Hype is hype however some athletes from the USA who have gone on to perform well did not have much razzmatazz surrounding their progression and have been able to step into the limelight when it counts, for example Shalane Flanagen and Kara Goucher who have each won medals at the majors, the Olympics and World Track Champs.
World Indoors seems to be a poor Championship to compare future performances at the Olympics and Outdoor Champs to, however they are all stepping stones to other things. If approached realistically without placing too much stress on an athlete, like Fernandez, who hopefully has the gumption to go to Berlin this year and who may go on to show his value to a nation in waiting for a home grown talent to deliver.
Only time will tell How Good German Fernandez is.
Good luck
TheEd
