While all of that may be true, trackcoach, it also smacks of a defeatist attitude of going for the easier win (which is precisely what Cain did last year at World Juniors), instead of risking losing in a tougher race. I believe that mindset is affecting Mary Cain right now.
It is all a moot point as KM isn't at the World Youth trials this week anyway, and is presumably eligible for Pan Am Juniors - which is also less of a travel impact for a young girl (Canada being a lot closer than Columbia and culturally similar).
As to the poster who thinks this is all too much. I don't get the mindset that talented athletes are better off getting ready for silly state HS meets, as opposed to being able to qualify for a National team and wear a USA vest. Perhaps taking a break afterwards and then preparing for a later XC season (Nov/Dec), instead of running silly early season HS XC meets (Aug/Sept) is better for her development. I believe that Ajee Wilson is the runner she is because of that International experience (World Youth and World Juniors) and Jordan Hasay did her share of these meets as well. It takes the athlete out of the insular world of US HS track to recognize that there are others who may be equally good elsewhere in the world.
I also believe that Webb would have been better served trying to make International Junior teams and competing at that level (even with age cheats), than chasing fast times (which he obtained) which left him tactically naive when it came to international championship racing. Of course competing in the NCAA may have helped him in that regard as well.