Jordan tells Mary Cain to go NCAA

agip wrote:

in college you have a built in support system. Abbey D is almost at Train's level and she says that she still needs a collegiate setup.

Abbey is a strong 5000m runner but she is a junior in college and not on Mary junior in HS Cains level.

The NCAA system is a waste of time for a talent like MC. She already knows how to race and like racing in HS will never see any real competition in college.

#YOBRO wrote:

The NCAA system is a waste of time for a talent like MC. She already knows how to race and like racing in HS will never see any real competition in college.

This is assuming Cain can maintain what she is able to do now. It's not the given that she is going to keep improving or even be able to run as fast as she is now, 4 years from now.

mid burbs wrote:

This is assuming Cain can maintain what she is able to do now. It's not the given that she is going to keep improving or even be able to run as fast as she is now, 4 years from now.

You say that as though it is an argument for her to run NCAAs. It is perhaps the best reason to go pro immediately.

agip wrote:

just to complete the thought - some people need the structure of a team, a coach she sees every day, a group of people to run with, and a low-pressure set of races.

Maybe Cain would do better in that more secure collegiate arrangement, at least for a year while she adjusts to livign away from home and growing up.

"some people" may need the structure of a college team and coach they see every day, but it seems that Mary Cain is already doing quite well without all that. Besides, turning pro does not mean she can't have a face-to-face coach or a group of other pros to run with. She doesn't need a college team.

She can go to college and be pro at the same time. She seems very intelligent and is a hard worker.

My only concern with Mary turning pro is that's a lot of pressure for a 17-18 year old. But she seems like a pretty mature young lady.

She does seem mature and poised. But she hasn't had a setback yet - that will happen and having a disaster on a national stage can be rough on a girl.

And if she runs with a pro team she won't have anyone within 5 years of her age - would be weird running with a bunch of adults with families.

I'm not disagreeing with you - a pro team might be the best thing for her - but it's not a slam dunk. Good change she uses a freshman year in college as a transition year.

Look. she's a 17 GIRL living at home, a cloistered life

What about her transition into adulthood?

The College route would afford her the gradual step into

self dependence

Not sure about Mom, but Dad's Columbia Med/Harvard Fellowship indicates to me education is highly valued

Even for just a couple years, the benefit of being on her own, within a group of peers (age-wise), with a selected

team/coach, allowing MC to grow into a rounded independent

WOMAN

Attend Stanford, train with Rowbury / BATC ?

yeah yeah yea wrote:

With her current improvement this year it makes absolute sense to go to Portland to train with Salazar's runners and go to one of their schools - i'm pretty sure the have at least a couple well respected really expensive schools.

Really ? Which ones ? Portland has a number of "respected" schools, but none that are well known outside of the Northwest. Reed is the best academically, but no one has ever heard of it. Willamette is decent - but not well known. Portland is expensive but a bit of a joke academically. And PSU? Gimme a break.

Mary Cain is the real deal. And if she's as good as we all think she is - why can't Salazar coach her from Portland and fly out once a week to the great school that Cain selects to attend and monitor a workout or two ? Cain shouldn't have to move to Portland if there are no schools to her liking - Salazar should be bending over for her, not the other way around.

That's what will happen. Mary will make her choice, with input from her parents, and Alberto will make it work per her choice.

Metawampi wrote:

Look. she's a 17 GIRL living at home, a cloistered life

What about her transition into adulthood?

The College route would afford her the gradual step into

self dependence

Not sure about Mom, but Dad's Columbia Med/Harvard Fellowship indicates to me education is highly valued

Even for just a couple years, the benefit of being on her own, within a group of peers (age-wise), with a selected

team/coach, allowing MC to grow into a rounded independent

WOMAN

Smart comments.

We don't know what her ultimate academic goals are.

We don't know what her post running career goals are.

Jordan told her to go to college because of the friendships you make that last a lifetime, with a lifetime of team memories etc. For the college experience.

To you men who post and knock Hasay, a 21 year old young woman, what is the matter with you?

You can be pro & go to college.

Cain has lots of $$$ on the table now- AND WOMEN ARE KNOWN TO OFTEN PEAK VERY EARLY. Get the $$$ while it's there.

Metawampi wrote:

Look. she's a 17 GIRL living at home, a cloistered life

What about her transition into adulthood?

The College route would afford her the gradual step into

self dependence

Not sure about Mom, but Dad's Columbia Med/Harvard Fellowship indicates to me education is highly valued

Even for just a couple years, the benefit of being on her own, within a group of peers (age-wise), with a selected

team/coach, allowing MC to grow into a rounded independent

WOMAN

Agree! In fact, Cain just turned 17 last month, and still has her senior year of high school ahead of her. She could cash in and go pro, but she clearly doesn't need the money. I recall that Salazar had experience as a teen training with some biggies, but what do you think the parents are telling their daughter? I suspect something along the lines of Metawami's comment.

Good points. We won't see her go pro until she gets to a performance level that commands a really big financial reward. Right now she's still waiting for that other shoe to drop, so to speak.

Mary should retire right now. She hasn't even run a step as a pro and already the glare of the bright lights is super intense. Soon the paparazzi will be digging through her garbage cans, stalking her on her trips to the mall, talking to her elementary school classmates. Face it - it's all downhill from here. She should just retire right now and get a part-time job at Friendly's or something.

this

I don't understand why posters can't separate "going to college" and "running in college." I have no doubt that Mary Cain should go to college and experience all that has to offer her in terms of maturing, making friends, growing intellectually and gaining credentials for a post-running career.

NCAA running offers very little to no upside for her. I can't see her doing it at all and if she does more than 1 year makes no sense at all. She's too good and will not learn or grow by dominating. NCAA does not make financial sense either, she should grab the money while it is there and spend an extra 1-4 years earning money as a pro.

I wonder what advice Allyson Felix would give her.

xxxx wrote:

I wonder what advice Allyson Felix would give her.

Exactly.

Jordan says: wrote:

Jordan Hasay says "Mary Cain go to college..."

And Jordan is absolutely right. There is zero reason for Cain to go pro, but multiple reasons to go to college: 1) She is one ankle twist or other injury away from ever running again (think Verzbicas); 2) Long term a college education is a fundamental academic development, especially for Cain who has the drive and the smarts to take advantage of a top flight school like a Princeton; 3) Socially, Cain is probably best served by exposure to people her own age and college will provide the perfect environment for that; 4) At a top athletic / academic school like Princeton, Cain will have no shortage of athletic development. These schools lavish tones of resources on developing their athletes to their fullest potential. Cabral was developed at Princeton to the level where he represented the USA in the recent Olympics in the steeplechase, earning an eighth place finish against the world's elite.

The question really boils down to whether Cain has what it takes to both produce as an athlete AND an academic in the tough academic environment of a school like a Princeton.

Clearly this is the route her parents, both well-educated would want, if Cain can get in. It is every parent's dream.

I guess we shall see.