Cain hopes Efraimson 'has a lot of fun'

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

For once in her brief professional career, Mary Cain won't be the youngest athlete in the field on Saturday when she competes in the Women's Wanamaker Mile for the second straight year at the NYRR Millrose Games.

On Friday, Alexa Efraimson from Camas, Wash. stepped into The Armory for a short shakeout after a somewhat stressful trek across the country. She and her father and coach got to New York at 6 a.m. after a series of missed and delayed flights.

Meanwhile, Cain of nearby Bronxville, N.Y., had a seat on the dais at the press conference at the New York Athletic Club on Friday afternoon. She is, by virtue of an incredible year-plus of record-breaking performances, perhaps the biggest star of the meet.

Cain has mile best of 4:24.11. Efraimson, still a junior, ran a stunning 9-flat 3,000 meters in Seattle a couple of weeks ago.

"It's a little weird because I'm used to being the baby in the race," Cain said. "It's kind of exciting too."

A little more than two months after Efraimson topped fellow high school distance queens Sarah Baxter and Elise Cranny at Nike Cross Nationals, there is another match-up for the ages.

"I just wish (Alexa) the best of luck," Cain said. "I hope she has a lot of fun tomorrow. It's going to be a really fun race. I'm excited for it. I would just tell her, 'Run your race, run your heart out.' That's what I'm trying to do and I hope she does the same."

Cain would love nothing more than to help usher in a new era of excitement and attention for track and field.

"I may not be the one to do it, but maybe I'll inspire the person who does and that's all I really care about," Cain said. "Maybe it will be three or four of us, or 10 of us, that are doing well and get people to (treat this sport) like the national past-time."

Cain is feeling the girl power.

"High school girls track is kicking ass right now," she said. "It's really good and I'm the first one to be like 'Ohh, good job guys!'"