Cain will compete in her debut at the 5k distance on the track. (Photo by Kyle Brazeil)
Prep sensation commits to run PTF on June 8
PORTLAND, ORE., May 21, 2013 - No U.S. track and field athlete has captured attention and inspired fans quite like 17-year old New Yorker Mary Cain. The prep star has not only propelled herself into the elite ranks of U.S. middle distance running, but has shown up time and again to prove she's a legitimate contender to make the U.S. roster for this year's IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Moscow.
With the Portland Track Festival less than three weeks away, the staff of the Portland Track Festival has a firm commitment from Cain, who is scheduled to run the Team Athena 5,000m on June 8.
After her record setting performance at the Oxy High Performance Invitational, where she finished second in a World Championship 'A' standard qualifying time of 4:04.62, along with her 2:01.68 800m fourth place finish at Re:RUN San Diego, Cain now sets her sights on running against the best in the world at the Pre Classic on June 1. After Pre, the focus turns to Portland, where she'll take on the 5,000m distance for the first time on the track.
"The question of who could be the most exciting athlete addition to the Portland Track Festival came up at a recent planning meeting. Mary Cain was definitely a pick in this fantasy track draft. Starting back during indoor, discussion of Cain's most recent race often served as an opening to actual planning at these meetings. It only seemed fitting that word of Cain's plan to compete in the Team Athena 5k came just days after her4:04 Oxy 1500. As a race organizer I am honored to have Mary Cain compete. As a track fan, I really can't wait to be trackside while she does," says Team AthenaPresident Laura Devine.
The sixth annual Portland Track Festival is set to take place on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. The distance-only event hosts a collection of races, giving America's best distance runners the opportunity to run fast and compete towards the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Eugene, Oregon – Mary Cain, the phenomenal 17-year-old from Bronxville, New York, has been
added to the IAAF Diamond League 800m at the June 1stPrefontaine Classic.
Cain obliterated the High School Record in the 1500m last weekend at the USATF Oxy High Performance meet in southern California. Her time of 4:04.62 took more than 6 seconds off her own HSR of 4:10.77 set earlier this spring. She is now the fastest prep in history by almost 10 seconds over the next closest athlete, Jordan Hasay at 4:14.50.
Coached by Oregon legend Alberto Salazar, Cain has the potential to not only improve upon her 800 personal best (2:03.34), but to take down the High School and American Junior record of 2:00.07 set by Kim Gallagher in 1982. The World Junior record is 1:54.01 by Pamela Jelimo of Kenya, who also happens to be in the IDL 800m race.
IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE 800 METERS
Mariya SAVINOVA RUS
Pamela JELIMO KEN
Francine NIYONSABA BDI
Alysia MONTANO USA
Yekaterina POISTOGOVA RUS
Janeth JEPKOSGEI KEN
Winny CHEBET KEN
Brenda MARTINEZ USA
Mary CAIN USA
Fans can follow the event lineups as all announced fields are posted at PreClassic.com. The direct link to current start/entry lists is HERE and includes updates to previously announced fields. Tickets for the 39th annual edition of the Prefontaine Classic, to be held May 31st - June 1st at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., are available now from PreClassic.com and from 1-800-WEBFOOT. Sponsored by NIKE continuously since 1984, the Prefontaine Classic will be shown live to an international audience and by NBC Sports from 1:30 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. PT on June 1st.
The Prefontaine Classic is the longest-running outdoor invitational track and field meet in America and is part of the elite IAAF Diamond League of meets held worldwide annually. Last year’s Pre Classic presented the most 2012 Olympic gold medalists (20) of any invitational meet in the world.
