Beaverton, Oregon - Mud. If there is one thing to take from the 2012 Nike Cross National Championship, most likely it will be all the mud on the athletes spikes. Course conditions were bad out there. They wreaked havoc on some of NY's teams, while other fared well. Below are two of the top stories, plus ten photos that personify the meet for New Yorkers.
Sweet, Sweet Seven
The girls of Fayetteville-Manlius have done it; again. They have taken home the national title, well earned from the depths of Portland Meadows. Even more impressive than the continued "streak" is the manner in which they won, despite early critics citing a loss at Manhattan would signify it would be a down year for Manlius. The score was 54, which also entailed a one hunder and forty point deficit to the second place team. That is the largest winning margin, ever. Nobody was even close. Add to that the compression, in this case thirty-seven seconds, and you have an argument for one of Manlius' best teams ever. And remember, more than half of them come back next year, with more waiting in the ropes.
Catching Cain
Mary Cain gave Sarah Baxter one thing she had not seen much of this year: a race. East Coast and West Coast met for the first time since last year, where Baxter ran away with the race, one that also saw Cain take 6th. Since then, Cain's speed and strength progressed. And did it ever. Cain would keep improving week after week at an astonishing pace, that culminated in an invite to the Olympic Trials, as well as a National Record in the 1500m that is here to stay, only until Mary looks to break it again. Coming into this fall, Cain found herself in limbo, between coaches and above the level of local competition. One phone call changed everything. A new coach found, Cain has changed much of her training styles and techniques, adding varying routines that both prepare and prevent. One thing was evident, and that is that Cain's eyes are now on the long term. That being said, taking second place to Sarah Baxter at Nike Cross Nationals, after closing almost half of a 50m gap in the last 600m isn't something to take lightly. It only bodes well for what is to come next: track.
Catching Coach
The phone call Mary recieved in the fall of 2012 stemmed from a chance meeting in Eugene. While preparing for her heats in the 800m, Cain caught glimpse of famed Oregon-based coach Alberto Salazar. The two spoke briefly, wished eachother luck, and parted ways. Two monthes later, as Salazar was watching some races of the World Junior Champs on youtube, he saw his Olympic Trial aquaintance once more, smashing a high school record in commanding fashion. First contact was made, and the rest is history.
The changes Salazar has made in Cain have been nothing short of revolutionary for the young harrier. The comparison to pre- and post- Salazar training become evident when you take into account that Mary's last high school race happened on the same course (different distance) her first unnattached did. The difference was that while Cain won Manhattan, when she returned to win the Fred Lebow 5k two monthes later, she ran herself into the top 10 All-Time marks on the course, placing sixth overall, only behind several serious, male athletes.
Now comes the best part of the story for track fans. Speaking candidly about Cain's progress, Salazar noted that she is in the best shape of her life, and could very well challenge her own high school record in the 1500m if put on the track today. For fans everywhere, the question now is, just how much faster can she go?
Top Twenty Photos
East Aurora Boys In the Open Race
And the East Aurora girls came out for the Championship race.
As did Fayetteville-Manlius
And Saratoga Springs
And finally, the NY Inidividuals.
Gianna Frontera prepares for the mud
Mary Cain and Bella Burda make their way to the front. Unfortunately, the front included some mud.
Many of the New York girls found themselves up front.
The race was up and down for most on the whoop-de-doo's
Including Kennedey Jensen of Canandaigua
The hay bails also provided some slight variation in elevation, as hurdled by Taylor Driscoll.
Jillian Fanning was no stranger to the course.
The mud wasn't easy coming off at the end of the race.
As the girls were washing off, the boys were warming up.
But not without a run through the smoke.
But they didn't stay clean for too long, as evidenced by Nick Ryan up front.
Or eventual NY top finisher Mickey Burke.
The whoop-de-doos proved tiring for the boys as well.
However, the mud didn't break up Saratoga's pack.
Riley Hughes had to wade through much of the course, the mud was so bad.
But eventually the mud run would be over.
And Philo Germano has his fair share of mud as well.
In the end, all New Yorkers found eachother in the pen.