Riverbank's Fernandez smashes national record in 2-mile run

German Fernandez shattered the national record in the 2-mile run at the Nike Outdoor National Track and Field Championships in Greensboro, N.C., tonight.

Fernandez, a recent graduate of Riverbank High School, won the race in 8 minutes, 34.40 seconds, nearly two seconds faster than the 8:36.3 set by Burbank's Tim Nelson in 1979.

Fernandez had previously set the national record for the 3,000 meters, when he crossed that distance in just under 8 minutes. The old record in that race was 8:05.8.

Fernandez set the national record in the 3,200 at the CIF State Track and Field Championships last month at Cerritos College in Norwalk. That run of 8:34.23 was coupled with a victory in the 1,600-meter run in 4:00.29.

Fernandez, who will run for Oklahoma State University next year, won the Gatorade Boys Track and Field Runner of the Year award on Thursday. This record-setting run places him as one of the favorites to win the national award.