Mary Cain Ducking Again??

Not a Coach wrote:

Stop spouting common sense.

No one asked you... It's not "common" sense to everyone, as some others have different perspectives on which route Cain should take...

FYI Mary Cain turned 18 in May.

Cain is entered in the US Nationals 1500. I wonder if she's going to use those races to check progress for Paris or practice for World Juniors...

You guys are all such jerks. The girl is in high school leave her be. Maybe she just likes racing the 800 better. Which one of you guys want to go up against aregawi or Simpson while you're still in high school? Leave her be and let her have fun. This message board is one of many that are trying to take the fun out of running and insert pressure, media, money, and stress. Let her be 18 and enjoy her diamond league meet.

Mary Cain is a pro so therefore she is now subjected to more criticism because she is getting paid to run. If she didn't want that then she didn't have to become a pro

Precious Roy wrote:

She does not have to prove anything to her sponsors.

This is the sad reality of Track & Field and one reason why it will never be mainstream. With no league or "points" (like in Nascar) they don't race, have nothing to prove and one reason we only see them race a handful of times a year... Maybe.

I think they are doing the right thing with Cain, this is a commentary on our sport. There is no clear definition of what it means to be pro. I followed the career of a kid I coached in HS in college. There was a schedule, they raced and raced often. They turned pro, I don't think I've seen them race more than twice and that was on the roads.

Why?

USATF need to set up a schedule, have a point system and do it on a regular basis. Perhaps the NHL plays too many games. Same for MLB, NFL, NBA.... But you need to pay the bills. So we may see a decline in record attempts but people don't know the difference between a 3:40 mile and a 3:40 1500. But they do know wins and loses. Market to that and you have something.

If Mary or her coach were touting her as No. 1 in the world in 1,500 now, she would be "ducking" a chance to prove it.

Like a thoroughbred racehorse, she may need some tightening races to get ready for the big race.

Does anyone really think she will run in World Juniors?

This is not a crucial season for Mary...she needs to work on strategy etc. rather than go for record times....

She has plenty of time.

Personally, I would not buy a ticket to a meet this summer based on Cain running in some pro boat race...wait.

Mary will let Alexa step up to her level this season. Alexa will finish with 4:06/2:00

2015 Alexa will turn pro, and it will be a full-on match-up, and the 2016 Trials will be a conflagration.

Sing Gal wrote:

Check your math wrote: Mary Cain is 18. Why are people saying she's 17?

Mr stickler wrote: Ok 18yrs 1 month and 10 days.[/quote]

Wow, you must be the life of the party telling people their ages to the m-d-y. You must be single.[/quote]Did you think that up by yourself? You are so witty!

I see the need for some alternate money making path - the top 10 in each even can make money...but after that, it's part time jobs and struggle.

So do your points system for those who want it. Don't make Lagat run 15 races a year, but if, say, Stephanie Rothstein wants some USATF money, then the needs to accumulate some points in road races.

That sort of thing.

The NOP Shrinks don't want to risk damaging Cain's fragile psyche with a loss to Alexa. Forget about Simpson, Mary is not her Track Jenny's league.

Really not that sure why they will not run Cain at 1500M?

seriously, what is that risk? She is not expected to beat many in that field anyway, and most give her constant passes on every sub par performance anyway, as she is only 18.

Not sure what the big deal really is, especially since this is like a "home game" for her.

I don't like NOP, but I'm not sure if I have enough specifics of the situtation to criticise too much here. I do wonder why a 4 minute race is so much more scary than a 2 minute race.

The weird thing is that last year as an "amateur", MC was jet-setting all over the world (may be an exaggeration), eschewing any high school competition.

This year, as a pro, she is picking the easier races (perhaps injury recovery related), and may be looking to peak for an age group competition.

douglas burke wrote:

salazar said he has to decide if he wants cain to run world juniors or shatter 4:00 minutes on july 5th in paris.

Why can't she do both?

hgv wrote:

douglas burke wrote:

salazar said he has to decide if he wants cain to run world juniors or shatter 4:00 minutes on july 5th in paris.

Why can't she do both?

To run at World Juniors, Cain has to qualify at US Juniors, which are being held July 5-6 in Eugene.

Unless Cain runs some surprisingly great time at Icahn tomorrow, I think Salazar will have her go the US Juniors / World Juniors route and decide about the the rest of her summer schedule after he sees how that goes.

^^^This.

You better be careful, though. You're not supposed to string together mature, cogent sentences like this on LR.

Rather, you're supposed to act like an impetuous child, accusing 18 year old girls (and any member of NOP) of 'ducking' and 'juicing' preferably in the same sentence.

Not sure how many world champ finalists that are now pros are dropped back into world junior comp?

Rather unusual career patching

Trialswatcher wrote:

Not sure how many world champ finalists that are now pros are dropped back into world junior comp?

Rather unusual career patching

lots.

Could Alexa compete with Cain at the 800? If so, it would be pretty interesting if she switched events to make sure they faced each other.

I think that's all anyone really wants anyways - is to see the two phenoms go head to head. Preferably in the 1500/mile, but whatever.