MileSplit NY - This spring, we'll be doing more interviews than ever, trying to highlight some of the top action from around the state. Below, in our first entry, we have Anna and Sarah Flynn.
Anna Flynn (right) is a freshmen for Ursuline, who grew up in the USATF Youth circuit, running since she was young. In her first year of high school track, she has already made an impact in Section 1, winning her sectional race over 3000m, and coming in 2nd at the Westchester County meet. Her sister, Sarah (left), is currently a 6th grader at Saint's John & Paul, who is making waves in the USATF Youth circuits herself. She recently won both the 3000m and the 1500m, at the youth championships, running 5:07.02 in her second race of the day. And only a week prior, Flynn made waves in the 3000m, going 10:07.10, to take the 6th grade National Record for the event, both indoors and outdoors. Just as a point of reference, that would put her at NY #10 and US #25 for the event amongst all high schoolers this year.
We caught up with the Flynn's on Saturday morning at a local youth track meet, to talk about some of their success.
MileSplit NY: You've really been running well at these youth meets, where you have been pulling away from the fields. What kind of impact have some of these times been having on you?
Sarah Flynn: We don't really talk about my times too often. I just run the races to have fun, and I find out the times a while after I've finished the race. As for the records, (my father) doesn't really mention all that to me, so I had no idea until you told me.
MNY: Well, lets backtrack just a little. You were the first female finisher at the NXN-NY Youth Race this year at Bowdoin Park, then you've moved on to Indoor Track. Which season is your favorite?
SF: I really like Cross Country the best, it is definitely my favorite. I want to keep improving there. When it comes to the track, I run both the 1500m and the 3000m, but I like the 3000m more. I like to be able to think during my races.
MNY: You've had a little break now, and you're headed for Outdoor Track, what are some of your goals for the next season.
SF: Now that I know I broke the record, I'd like to keep running well. Breaking 10 (minutes) is something I want to do. Also, heading to USATF Nationals again would be really cool.
MNY: And what about next year, where you'll be in seventh grade, do you think there will be any big changes?
SF: I think I am going to race less often, and really focus on the USATF Youth races.
MNY: What kind of training do you do right now?
SF: I also do CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) Soccer and Basketball, but I like Track the best. I like to go out for runs when Anna is her practice, maybe a mile or so. I also try to run a little bit after a soccer game, just because I like to run. I don't keep track of how much I run or what I do, no workout stuff, I just sort of go out.
MNY: So what made you gravitate towards the track scene, and running in general?
SF: My dad was always telling us stories of when he used to run, and then I saw my sister running too, so it was always fun to do.
MNY: Now Anna, you ran USATF as well growing up, didn't you?
Anna Flynn: Yeah, I ran in the USATF meets as well, we used to travel all over.
MNY: What's it like been transitioning to high school running?
AF: Its definitely different, with workouts and things like that. Right now, we're working on speed work, 300m (repeats) and things like that.
MNY: This year, you've made a big splash in Section 1, partly because of your race experience growing up. What's it been like running in big races?
AF: I've been having a lot of fun racing this year so far, I love it.
As the personal records continue to drop, its becoming clear that lower Westchester has some future stars in the ranks. But these fast times by younger athletes is something Westchester has seen before, most recently only a few years back. As a 7th grader, another local athlete begin cruising to fast times that could hang with some of the top talents in the state. Warp to 2012, and Mary Cain, the 7th grader who ran 5:03 in the mile in 2009, is now running in USATF events as well, like the recent USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, albeit at a different level than youth competition.
However, to this day, Cain still gives credit to the upperclassmen she raced against in her early years as inspiration for her to keep on running. With then-veteran runners like Aisling Cuffe of Cornwall always taking the time to talk to Mary, Cain credits these interactions as key motivators in her career. Most notable would be the invitations to run cooldowns after big races with some of her elder competitors, when Cain herself was only in middle school.
With this in mind, Cain waited patiently in the stands as Sarah Flynn ran her final indoor race of the season, so that Mary could return the favor that was given to her. As Flynn crossed the line of her final race, she found Cain waiting to take her on cooldown jog around the park. We caught up with the three athletes at the famous Van Cortlandt Park statue of the Tortoise and the Hare after their run. The statue, which also serves as the finish line for the Manhattan XC Invitational, was also the only time Anna Flynn and Cain had the opportunity to race in the same meet, although in separate heats.
MNY: So you were able to see Sarah run today for the first time, what did you think?
Mary Cain: It was really cool to see the youth meet, seeing all the kids so active. And Sarah ran a great race today, I was really impressed when I watching her run. The times are really nice to see also, I mean, I ran about 5:12 as a seventh grader in the 1500m, so I can respect her marks so far.
MNY: What's the biggest advice you could give to Sarah right now, or any athlete for that matter.
MC: I think the biggest thing for most people is to always have fun with it. You're running to have fun, that's why you do it. There have been times where it almost became a chore for me, and my times weren't improving. But I just had to remember that I liked to run, it was fun to do, and it was that enthusiasm which made me a better runner. Sarah seems to be having fun when she runs, so I think she'll do just fine, and I think it's great for the sport.
