As a member of the high school class of 2008, Derrick has traded victories with former American high school record holder in the two-mile, German Fernandez. As a high school senior at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois, Derrick gained recognition when he won the 2007 Illinois state cross country championship and set the course[1] record on the altered Detweiller Park course in 13:52, behind the 13:50.6 that Craig Virgin (the only American to ever win at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships) ran on the original course.[2][3] Derrick concluded his senior cross country season by capturing both a team and individual victory at the Nike Cross Nationals competition, followed a week later by a second-place finish at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. During track season, at the Arcadia Invitational Derrick ran a 13:55 in the 5000m, the fastest time run by an American high school student in a high school-only race.[4][5] Derrick received the inaugural Gatorade[6]
National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year award in partnership with ESPN RISE Magazine following his 2007 season.
College
Derrick attended Stanford University and earned 14 All-American honors (Four in cross country, five in indoor track and field, and five in outdoor track and field)
On May 2, 2009, Derrick set the American Junior 5000m record with a time of 13:29.98, breaking Olympian Galen Rupp's previous record of 13:37.91, run in 2004.[9][10][11][12]
On June 12, 2009, Derrick placed 3rd at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5000 Meter Run.
On November 23, 2009, Derrick placed 3rd at the NCAA Cross Country Championship
On June 11, 2010, Derrick placed 4th at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5000 Meter Run.[13]
On November 21, 2011, Derrick finished in 2nd place behind Lawi Lalang of Arizona in his final cross country race for Stanford at the DI NCAA Cross Country Championship.
On March 9–10, 2012, Derrick finished in 2nd place behind Lawi Lalang of Arizona in both the 3000m and 5000m runs at the NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field National Meet.[14]
On April 30, 2012, Derrick finished in 3rd place in the 10,000m and set an American Collegian record at the Payton Jordan Invite in 27 minutes, 31.38 seconds.[15][16][14]
August 17, Derrick finished 8th at Falmouth Road in 33:41.[34][35]
September 11, Derrick ran 13:25 at Diamond League final in Brussels.
February 13, 2016, Derrick qualified to compete at 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials at Jacksonville Bank Marathon 2016 on January 3, 2016, with a time 1:03:41.[36]
Derrick ran 18:27.70 for Team San Francisco at 2016 Track Town Summer Series 4-mile race to finish second to Sam Chelanga who ran 18:23.60 for Team NY. Derrick's contribution helped San Francisco win the team title.
November 26, 2016, Derrick ran 27:38 for 10,000 metres at 2016 Hachioji Long Distance Invitational in Tokyo.