Elise Cranny 4:10.95 1500!!

I believe Salazar has mentioned that WJ has been discussed, but nothing has been finalized with regards to her summer schedule (but that 3-4 weeks ago when I read the article).

800 analyzer wrote:

Has Cain or AlSal given an indication that they even have an interest in WJ? Whats to gain by running? Not much, imo.

Since there is no Senior age championship meet for Americans this summer (Commonwealths and Europeans for some other countries) why wouldn't she do it? Last I saw she has yet to win a global medal, let alone a title (AE has such a medal, as does Ajee Wilson- 2 golds). While it can be argued that she should win easily, stranger things have happened. If Judd is fit (has she been injured this year?), she ran 1.59 last year. Heck, until she runs what Zola Budd ran as a Junior (3.59.9, 8.28, 14.48), she can't really be regarded (Chinese exempted) as the best Junior of all time, as some Americans are painting her out to be at this point. Winning a title in the absence of these times at least gets her thinking about winning outside of US domestic competition - and the meet is in Eugene (assuming that she is moving to Portland this summer), so is in her own backyard. I would like to think that even Salazar isn't so fixated on her Senior achievements that he forgets the little steps in between.

Given that she is forgoing NCAA competition, one meet shouldn't be all that difficult for her to accomodate - I would think that Nike would be all over getting the best Americans in the country to compete - absolute dominance. It's not like the US has been getting any IAAF outdoor Senior championships (even lowly Canada has had one of those).

This could be the stepping stone to a truly stellar championship career if she wins in Eugene, then medals in 2015 and 2016 at world seniors and the Olympics - seems a no-brainer to me. In fact if she doesn't compete, then I really question Salazar's priorities and sanity - the diamond league (or even times themselves) will always be there for her, champioship titles are not - ask Alan Webb (HS phenom) how many global titles he earned after skipping the NCAA and Junior experience for chasing times. Runnning 3.53 was great, but I would hope that he would trade a global title for even that performance (won't last forever).

A couple of things:

There is probably a 50/50 chance Cain will/or will not go to Jr Nats. (There is a reason AlSal has not answered that question yet.) Jr Nats & WJr is for amateurs and Cain is a pro now and has pro obligations; between her agent, coach, etc., she has bills to pay. Cain would be giving up close to $100k focusing on these amateur meets. Also, Cain winning WJr is not a given, it does not seem to matter how good of a Jr we produce, the Africans can come up with some unknown athlete who can win WJrs and be competitive in DL meets a couple weeks later.

The problem for Elise and Emma and any the other H.S. phenoms is that Jr Nats only take 2 athletes. If Cain does do Jr Nats, whatever event or events she enters, there will only be one spot available. If Cain does the 800m, Olivia Baker would be my bet for the other spot.

Being that Jr Nats is on U.S. soil, expect to see all of the NCAA true freshman, that means Sabrina Southerland, Savannah Camacho, Katie Knight, Hannah Meier and Erin Finn Michigan, to name a few. Running a 10 flat 2-mile does not buy you a whole lot.

With Cain and Olivia Baker, the 800m is pretty much off the table. In the 1500 or 3000 Efraimson & Cranny definitely have a shot, but for any other H.S. girl to make the WJr team, pray that Cain opts out or pick the event she is not running...that will be your best bet.

The Denver Post ran a profile this past weekend on Cranny.

In the interview, she states she will try out for a 1500m spot on the World Jr. team this July.

Regarding Baker, she has only run the 800m on relay legs and occasional small meets. She ran the 400m at last year's World Youth champs. Look for her in that event this July at Am Jrs trying to make the World team.

As for Cain, Salazar stated recently the only meets lined up for her so far are Prefontaine and Monacco. He stated the Cain family has a vacation planned before she enrolls at U. of Portland in August, so it's possible Cain won't run the Am Jr. nationals at all.

Cain not running Am Jr. nationals changes the calculus for the 800m and 1500m quite substantially.

Quasar wrote:

The Denver Post ran a profile this past weekend on Cranny.

In the interview, she states she will try out for a 1500m spot on the World Jr. team this July.

Regarding Baker, she has only run the 800m on relay legs and occasional small meets. She ran the 400m at last year's World Youth champs. Look for her in that event this July at Am Jrs trying to make the World team.

As for Cain, Salazar stated recently the only meets lined up for her so far are Prefontaine and Monacco. He stated the Cain family has a vacation planned before she enrolls at U. of Portland in August, so it's possible Cain won't run the Am Jr. nationals at all.

Cain not running Am Jr. nationals changes the calculus for the 800m and 1500m quite substantially.

It would be hard to fathom one of the world's top Jrs skipping the national meet to attend a family vacation. - Only in America.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply trackcoach.

Erin Finn is too old (1994) as is Savannah Camacho. Must be 1995 or younger. It is not really about being a freshman it seems.