German Fernandez views his career as sunlight beaming between clouds after a heavy rain.

He is turning the page, as ballplayers say, after what he called a three-year "rough patch" at Oklahoma State. Time to start anew for Fernandez, an NCAA champion targeting glory until illness and a series of injuries sapped his body and spirit.

"I'm going in the right direction to get my momentum and my confidence back," the Riverbank High product maintained this week. "I know I can do special things."

So does Nike, which quickly signed Fernandez after his graduation from Oklahoma State. He wore the OSU colors for the last time at the Olympic Trials, where he reached the semifinals of the 1,500 meters. Not long before, he placed 10th at the NCAA Championships.