On Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2014, in the Hyatt Grand Central, an amazing thing happened. A eighteen-year-old senior in high school, kept a group of seasoned sports media professionals interested for nearly thirty minutes!
What did she do to keep this group of media types from falling asleep or, walking away? She answered their questions with a sense of humor and lots of honesty.
Mary Cain, photo by PhotoRun.net
What a refreshing concept!
But, such is the life of Mary Cain, professional athlete and high school senior, about to go to college.
Mary Cain sits on the chair in her Nike poncho. Ricky Simms, her manager, stands nearby, knowing that he really does not have to worry about Mary, as she is not only articulate, she is refreshingly honest.
” I was not really happy with my 800 meter race at Pre. I wanted to run faster…but the 800 meters is a tough race…each race is different…and difficult.” opines Mary Cain.
When asked if she is over her injury from indoor season. ” The injury was probably because I ran all winter on the my treadmill. There was just so much snow outside, I could not really run outdoors.”
Mary Cain, photo by PhotoRun.net
Mary Cain looks like a eighteen year old high school senior. She went to her prom. She complains good naturedly, it should be added, about her three sisters borrowing various clothes and accessories. ” I actually like some of the things that they take.”
Mary Cain, ran a nice indoor season, and finished winning the USA indoors 1,500 meters, and then, withdrew from the World Indoors with a slight injury. ” I am eighteen, and I did not want to have a long-going injury.”
Mary Cain told us about sleeping in a tent that simulates high altitude. “My friends think it is cool.” smiled Mary Cain.
Mary Cain noted that she is a bit behind last year, and that is okay. She and Alberto Salazar, her coach, are considering her running the World Juniors. When asked if she would run the 800 meters or 1,500 meters, she noted, ” I want to do something different, so I am thinking about the 3,000 meters.”
With her graduation just a week off, Mary Cain sounds like she is looking forward to enjoying her summer, with some racing and some training. ” I only know this life, and I like it.”
Mary Cain told us that she is going to the University of Portland next year. Due to her high altitude tent, she will not have a room mate. ” It could be tough for some of my classmates to see the tent.”
Having taken six AP classes, Mary Cain will probably have some credits for her first year of university. ” I will probably pile on classes in the fall and take less in the spring.”
Mary Cain is real. Her parents put limits on her, and she is supported by family, friends and her coaching team. Her main friends are not runners, and that seems good to Mary.
I remember asking a keen observer of the sport why Alberto Salazar, as a coach, is so successful. The observer said that Alberto Salazar was one of the few coaches who was teaching his athletes how to race.
Mary Cain, photo by PhotoRun.net
With Mary Cain, I believe it is a different style of coaching with Mary Cain that helps her be successful. Mary Cain has been helped by Alberto Salazar in her racing and her need to be just a regular teenager.
A pretty regular teenager who just happens to be a fine middle distance runner.
Watch Mary Cain race on Saturday, June 14, 2014 in the women’s 800 meters at the adidas Grand Prix.
