Chris Derrick versus German Fernandez was one of the most highly anticipated showdowns going into the 2009 Stanford Payton Jordan Invitational.  

German was coming off a 3:56 indoor mile at Arkansas, in which he set a World Junior record for that event. He had also won the 2009 US Junior Cross Country Championships.

Likewise, Chris Derrick was a prep phenom. His 13:55 high school 5k at Arcadia his senior year represented the fastest 5k ever by a prep runner in a high school race.



There were many questions leading into the race as to whether Fernandez or Derrick might have a shot at Galen Rupp's 13:37 junior record.

Those questions were answered.

Derrick and Fernandez, along with Evan Jager and Hassan Mead, battled throughout, as the race came down to a furious last 600 meters.  Fernandez and Derrick were together with 300 meters to go, but it was Derrick pouring it on the final 200 and claiming the junior record in 13:29.98, smashing the record by over 7 seconds!

Hassan Mead pulled away the final 200 to take the win in 13:28.45 (Mead was another youngster, at only 19 years old) and Evan Jager of the Oregon Track Club (only 20) finished second.  

Fernandez broke the record as well, coming home in 13:31. The race more than lived up to all of the expectations, and it gave us a brilliant showdown between two of the finest junior runners this country has ever seen.

(Our only hope is that next time Mark's mom stops calling him during the broadcast.)

Chris Derrick post-race F bombs ... 



German Fernandez post-race gum chewing ... 


  
Tomorrow we will cover another thrilling race from a previous Payton Jordan meet, as yet another terrific young runner used the Payton Jordan to jump into the national spotlight.