Fearless Freshman Mary Cain breaks class 3K record

By Christopher Hunt

Photo by Tim Fulton

 

Bronxville freshman Mary Cain added another race to an incredible string of performances Friday night when she won the 3,000 meters at the Warwick Friendship Invitational in 9:28.6.

 

She broke a freshman class New York State record set by Saratoga Springs’ Nicole Blood of 9:36.6 set in 2003.

 

“I’m really not stunned,” Bronxville coach Jim Mitchell said. “Maybe I should be.”

 

Cain currently leads Section 1 in the 400, 800, 1,500 and 3,000. Her time Friday is the second-fastest in the state.

 

“Honestly, Mitchell wanted me to go after the section record (of 9:35.42 set by Suffern’s Shelby Greany in 2009) but I just wanted to break 10,” Cain said. “It’s really weird. To drop that much time, it’s weird. For the 1,500, I had an idea of what I wanted to run. But here I had no idea.”

 

Cain hadn’t run a competitive 3,000 since seventh-grade. Mitchell discovered her uncanny speed this indoor season. Now Cain leads the state in the 800 (2:06.70) and broke the state record in the 1,500 last weekend at the Somers Invitational, clocking 4:23.1.

 

“I think I’m more of a 100-meter runner,” Cain joked. “I’m just trying to branch out. I think Mitchell doesn’t know yet. He’s a little confused. As long as I don’t have to run the steeple then I don’t care. That looks pretty hard.”

 

 

Other Highlights from Warwick Friendship Games

 

Bronxville's Meredith Rizzo won the 1500m run in 4:37.9

Jackie Kasal of Warwick Valley won the 800m in 2:15.5

Patrizio Grandinali of Warwick won the 1600m in 4:25.6

 

Brenden McDonnell won the 2K steeple