han solar wrote:
Yes she is. If you were coaching her and responsible for her marketability, wouldn't you duck this also? If she lost to Ephraimson she'd be done and a mental mess. She is likely ducking Ephraimson. If she was in shape to win the 1500 in front of her home crowd, she would be in the race.
If Cain were in shape to win this 1500m race, she would be the greatest American female 1500m runner of all time. She might develop into that, but even at full fitness she isn't that now.
I don't think Cain is ducking anybody. Her fitness isn't great, she didn't run particularly well at Pre, AlSal wants her to get back out there and race, but in a setting where she can have plenty of space and - with luck - run well. Something like 2:01 - 2:01.5 would be fine and probably good enough to win since I don't think Goule is fully fit either and I don't see anyone else in this field breaking 2:02 [unless the Ethiopian teenager is a rapidly developing up & comer.]
Cain has made it clear all spring that she's been putting her senior of HS and her transition to college ahead of her running. That seems like a reasonable decision, but it makes it somewhat unlikely she'll set any PRs this outdoor season.
I hope the transition to college life goes smoothly for her, that she has a fine indoor season, and that her 2015 outdoor season goes even better than her 2013 outdoor season did. [which is a lot to ask - making the US team at 1500m isn't a given, and if she does that, neither is making it back to the final at Worlds.]