Most Talented Young U.S. Female Runner Ever

High School Running Distance

9 years ago 07/06/2014 2:25am EDT

Not sure why this thought popped into my head this evening, but it did. Wonder if people agree or understand just how good Mary Decker was.

Mary Cain is crazy talented and performing incredible, the same for Alexa Efraimson. I have to say though that I think if Mary Decker had been fortunate enough to have the guidance these two are having, she would have crushed their times. Not a knock on them, they are bad asses and deserve the credit they are kidding. Just want to see if there are those who saw Decker race and know her story that would agree?

Mary Decker ran 2:02 as 14 year old....but tragically had horrible coaching at a young age, running her in marathons then track races the next day. She then suffered from multiple stress fractures and compartment syndrome in her true high school years. I think with better coaching Mary Decker would have run sub 4:00 in the 1500 and sub 2:00 in the 800 in high school. It's too bad it is speculation. In my humble opinion she was the most talented female runner ever in this country.

Like to hear what others think.

9 years ago 07/06/2014 6:50am EDT

re: Not Cain, Not Efraimson

Not Cain, Not Efraimson wrote:
… Mary Decker would have run sub 4:00 in the 1500 and sub 2:00 in the 800 in high school. It's too bad it is speculation...

Mary Cain actually has run sub-2:00 and has a very realistic shot at sub-4:00 later this summer. Agreed that drug cheat Mary Decker was an amazing talent though.

9 years ago 07/06/2014 9:02am EDT

re: Not Cain, Not Efraimson

Just to recall how fast Decker was, and how startling this was early on, she ran a 2:27.4 for 1000 yards in 1974 at the Millrose Games (I think 15 years old at the time). She lowered that to 2:23.8 in 1977 (age 18, I think). These were world records.

The first converts to about 2:41.5 for 1000 meters. The second converts to 2:37.3.

This year Cain ran the 1000 meters in 2:39.25 as she approached 18 years old.

I think their speeds are comparable, Decker may have been a bit faster. But in the context of women's track at the time, Decker's performances were quite phenomenal (world records at the time).

Although we constantly hear the refrains on this message board about Slaney the "drug cheat", I think there is something a unfair about the retroactive application of this label to Mary Decker as a teenager. The drug allegations did not occur until the mid-1990s, and they do cast a long shadow backward onto her achievements in the 1980s, but not back into the 1970s before she was fighting injuries and before she was married.

9 years ago 07/06/2014 10:43am EDT

re: Alanson

Alanson wrote:
Just to recall how fast Decker was, and how startling this was early on, she ran a 2:27.4 for 1000 yards in 1974 at the Millrose Games (I think 15 years old at the time). She lowered that to 2:23.8 in 1977 (age 18, I think). These were world records.
...
Although we constantly hear the refrains on this message board about Slaney the "drug cheat", I think there is something a unfair about the retroactive application of this label to Mary Decker as a teenager. The drug allegations did not occur until the mid-1990s, and they do cast a long shadow backward onto her achievements in the 1980s, but not back into the 1970s before she was fighting injuries and before she was married.

Good summary. But actually there were drug allegations well before the mid 1990s. Try 1980 and 1981.

9 years ago 07/06/2014 11:07am EDT

re: Slant

Kaylin Whitney 11.10 at age 16 is WORLD CLASS.

9 years ago 07/06/2014 11:38am EDT

re: Not Cain, Not Efraimson

"Ever" is very limited and really applies to the last 20 - 25 years. Prior to this time female uteri fell out. ;-)

9 years ago 07/06/2014 3:17pm EDT

re: Not Cain, Not Efraimson

DRUG CHEAT, DON'T CARE

9 years ago 07/06/2014 4:12pm EDT

re: Not Cain, Not Efraimson

I'd say Allyson Felix.

9 years ago 07/06/2014 4:22pm EDT

re: Baldwin Hills Baptist Church

Cain and Decker are definitely in a league of their own when it comes to American teenage prodigies. Likely if Decker hadn't been sidelined by injuries for several years in her late teens she would have had times that even Cain can't reach as a teenager.

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