2016 Stanford Invitational

German Fernandez and the Crazy Leap from 1500 to 10K

German Fernandez and the Crazy Leap from 1500 to 10K

In some surprising news, middle-distance aficionado German Fernandez announced that he would be running the 10K for the first time in his career at the Stan

Mar 31, 2016 by Taylor Dutch
German Fernandez and the Crazy Leap from 1500 to 10K
In some surprising news, middle-distance aficionado German Fernandez announced that he would be running the 10K for the first time in his career at the Stanford Invitational this week.

His diverse background includes the best single-day high school 1600m/3200m double in history, a NCAA 1500m title, and 3:34.60 1500m speed. 

Fernandez’s range resume:

1500m - 3:34.60 (Berlin 2012)

Mile - 3:55.02 (Big 12 Indoor 2009)

3K - 7:47 (Husky Classic 2009)

5K - 13:25 (USATF Outdoors 2009)

10K - 29:32.9 (NCAA XC 2011)

Fernandez's jump from his 1500m/5K bread and butter to 25 laps on the track is a big change, but not unique -- other runners have followed similar career trajectories.

Here are some notable athletes who managed to spread their range from the 1500m to the 10K. 

(Criteria includes 3:35 or faster 1500m speed and a successful 10K either on the track, road or cross country)

Galen Rupp (10K Olympic silver medalist, 8x World finalist in events ranging from 3K to 10K)

Galen Rupp's workout after running the American two-mile record in January 2014. 

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:34.15 (Brussels 2014)

Mile - 3:50.92 (Boston 2013)

3K - 7:30.16 (Stockholm 2013)

5K - 12:58.90 (Eugene 2012)

10K - 26:44.36 (Eugene 2014)

Marathon - 2:11:13 (Los Angeles 2016)



Matt Tegenkamp (2x Olympian, 3x World finalist in events ranging from the 5K to the 10K)

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:34.25 (Athens 2007)

Mile - 3:56.38 (Madison 2006)

3K - 7:34.98 (Monaco 2006)

5K - 12:58.56 (Brussels 2009)

10K - 27:28.22 (Stanford 2011)

Marathon - 2:12.28 (Chicago 2013)



Chris Solinsky (World finalist in the 5K, 5x NCAA champion in events ranging from 3K to 5K)

Solinksy's 10K run at 2010 Payton Jordan when he broke the then-American record. 

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:35.89 (Walnut 2011)

Mile - 3:54.52 (Seattle 2011)

3K - 7:34.32 (Rieti 2010)

5K - 12:55.53 (Stockholm 2010)

10K - 26:59.60 (Stanford 2010)


Dorian Ulrey (World Championships qualifier in the 1500m, 3K NCAA champion, 2x NCAA XC All-American) 

Ulrey doing a pre-Birmingham workout last summer. 

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:35.23 (Rome 2009)

Mile - 3:55.62 (Eugene 2012)

3K - 7:50.86 (Seattle 2009)

10K XC - 29:37 (Terre Haute 2009)



Andy Bayer (NCAA 1500m Champion)

Bayer after winning the 2012 NCAA title in the 1500m.

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:34.47 (Oordegem 2013)

Mile - 3:52.90 (London 2013)

3K - 7:42.33 (New York 2016)

3K steeple - 8:18.08 (London 2015)

5K - 13:32.74 (Stanford 2011)

10K XC - 30:11 (Terre Haute 2011)



Evan Jager (6th at 2012 Olympics, 2x World finalist in steeplechase, American record-holder)

DRIVEN: Evan Jager two-part series. 

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:32.97 (Portland 2015)

Mile - 3:53.33 (Eugene 2014)

3K - 7:35.16 (Stockholm 2012)

3K steeple - 8:00.45 (Paris 2015)

5K - 13:02.40 (Brussels 2013)

10K road - 28:54 (Madrid 2015)



Alan Webb (2x World finalist, American record-holder in the mile)

Webb's American record in the mile.

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:30.54 (Paris 2007)

Mile - 3:46.91 (Brasschaat 2007)

3K - 7:39.28 (Eugene 2005)

5K - 13:10.86 (Berlin 2005)

10K - 27:34.72 (Stanford 2006)



Ryan Hill (3K World Indoor silver medalist, 2x World finalist in the 5K)


Hill's workout before running a then-PR of 3:38 in the 1500m in Huesden (2013).

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:37.10 (Eagle Rock 2014)

Mile - 3:54.89 (New York 2013)

3K - 7:34.87 (Rieti 2014)

5K - 13:05.69 (Brussels 2015)

10K - 29:32.28 (Clemson 2010)



Eamonn Coghlan (1983 World champion in the 5K, Olympic finalist in the 1500m and 5K)

Range Resume:

1500m - 3:35.6 (San Diego 1981)

Mile - 3:49.78 (East Rutherford 1983)

3K - 7:37.60 (Oslo 1980)

5K - 13:19.13 (Zurich 1981)

10K - 28:19.3 (Philadelphia 1986)


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