by LetsRun.com

January 12, 2013

New York state’s Mary Cain, a high school junior who attends Bronxville but is coached remotely by Alberto Salazar, ran arguably the greatest distance race ever run by a high school girl today at the 2013 Dempsey Indoor meet at the University of Washington today.

Running against a field of professional, collegiate and open runners, Cain won the 3,000 in 9:02.10, shattering the previous girls high school indoor record of 9:17.7 that had belonged to Melody Fairchild since 1991 (although it’s likely the time won’t be considered the official high school mark as it was run on an oversized track). The mark today also was well under the fastest outdoor 3,000 ever run by a high schooler, as Lynn Bjorklund had run 9:08.6 in 1975.

Additionally, Cain’s 9:02.10 converts to 9:45.47 for 2 miles and 9:41.96 for 3,200 – well below the fastest times ever recorded at those distances by a high schooler indoors or out. The fastest 2 mile ever run by a high school girl came when Fairchild ran her 9:17.7 3k as she kept going and ran 9:55.92 for 2 miles back in 1991. The fastest 3,200 ever run came outdoors when Kim Mortensen ran 9:48.59 in 1996.

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In terms of the mile, according to LetsRun.com coaching stats guru John Kellogg, Cain’s time today is the equivalent of a 4:30.78 mile and 4:10.72 1,500. Cain is the US high school record holder outdoors as she ran 4:11.01 in placing sixth at World Juniors last year.

Full results appear below. Additionally, we are providing links to four message board threads devoted to Cain’s amazing run.

More: *Cain 9:02!!!

*Mary Cain 9:02!!!

*How many boys state 3200/2 mile can mary cain win?

*NOW what do you think about a Baxter-Cain face-off at 3200 / 2-mile? Hmmmm?

Section 4 1 Cain, Mary Unattached 9:02.10 2 Erdmann, Tara Nike Oregon Project 9:02.96 3 Moser, Treniere Nike Oregon Project 9:03.54 4 Stellingwerff, Hilary New Balance/ 9:05.79 5 Rohde, Kristen Bowerman AC 9:27.01 6 Zeferjahn, Tanya Cal Coast TC 9:30.41 7 Gallagher, Kerri Unattached 9:32.41 8 Knight, Katie Unattached 9:36.23 9 Rozcicha, Amber Portland State 9:36.83 10 Coffey, Karlee Unattached 9:42.63 11 Arsenault, Marilyn Unattached 9:43.31 12 Kyger Henry, Asher Tacoma City 9:50.44 -- Wetzel, Rose Club Northwest DNF