German fifth in US track nationals

Riverbank's German Fernandez placed fifth among 24 runners in the 5,000 meter race Friday night at the U.S.A. Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Fernandez, who capped his freshman year at Oklahoma State by winning the NCAA title in the 1,500, was timed in 13:25.46 — five seconds behind first-place Matt Tegenkamp of Oregon TC Elite. The Riverbank High graduate missed qualifying for the World Championships by about 3 seconds.

On Thursday, Modesto's three-time Olympian Suzy Powell was fifth in the discus with a throw of 197 feet, 10 inches, while reigning Olympic champion Stephanie Brown Trafton of Galt won at 210-9.