Dyestat Athletes of the Year (2012-13)

Hail, Mary!

The pool of talented high school performers ran deep in the school year 2012-13, but it was impossible to escape the star power of Mary Cain.

The junior from Bronxville may compete unattached with a world-renowned coach, but her achievements over the past eight months were mind-boggling. You could imagine that this is what it was like back in 1964 when Jim Ryun broke four minutes for the mile as a junior at East High School in Kansas and became a household name.

What Cain is doing is making U.S. track and field history and capturing imaginations. And the argument could be made that she is not only the Dyestat High School Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year, but also the U.S. Track and Field Athlete of the Year. (If she were in college, she’d probably win the Bowerman Award). She has done more for track and field in this country than perhaps any other athlete in 2013.

After placing second to Sarah Baxter on the mucky Nike Cross Nationals course last December, coach Alberto Salazar predicted without hesitation that she might break a record every time she stepped to the starting line in the indoor season. His words proved prophetic. Cain went to work training in locations such as The Armory and Manhattan College, by Alberto Salazar’s workouts and John Henwood’s supervision.

On Jan. 16, Cain flew to Seattle for a meet at the University of Washington’s Dempsey Indoor. She ran 3,000 meters in 9:02.10, six seconds faster than any prep had ever run the distance indoors or out. The record was questioned because of the facility’s oversized track, but the performance stood for itself.

Ten days later, in New York City, she crushed Debbie Heald’s 41-year-old U.S. HS indoor mile record by an astonishing six seconds, running 4:32.78. Her en route 1,500 time of 4:16.11 surpassed Lynn Jennings’ 1978 record. Her finish time was also better than Polly Plumer’s 1982 outdoor record.

At the Boston Indoor Games, Cain ran 9:38.68 in the two-mile, 10 seconds better than Kim Mortensen’s outdoor record for the 3,200.

Back in New York, she lopped four more seconds off her mile time at the Millrose Games with 4:28.25, a new world youth best.

Then she went to Albuquerque, N.M. and won the U.S. Indoor Championships title in the 1,500 meters.

Outdoors, in May at the Oxy Distance Classic, Cain ran 4:04.62 in the 1,500 meters to crush her own high school record by almost seven seconds. It was also a U.S. junior record.

At the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Cain became the first high school girl to break two minutes in the 800 meters (1:59.51) and forced U.S. champion Alysia Montano to dig deep in the last 50 meters to avoid embarrassment. Montano’s gracious gift at the finish line, pinning the flower from her hair on Cain, was a spontaneous moment of acceptance, signifying the 17-year-old had joined the elite “club” of professional track. A week later, in Portland, she broke the high school record in the 5,000.

Next, Cain went to Des Moines and finished second to Treniere Moser to punch her ticket to the World Championships, another mind-boggling achievement for an athlete so young.

The capstone to Cain’s great season came in Moscow, where she advanced through two rounds of qualifying to make the World Championships final in the 1,500 meters.

Here is a look at some of the other top candidates for Dyestat Girls Most Outstanding Performer.

DISTANCES

Wesley Frazier (Raleigh, N.C.): The Duke-bound senior continued her remarkable run of success in New Balance championship meets, kicking down Erin Finn for a U.S. record in the 5,000 indoors (16:18.01) and then delivering an historic triple (5K, 3,200, mile) outdoors.  

Alexa Efraimson (Camas, Wash.): The sophomore earned the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the World Youth Championships in Ukraine and ran a best of US#4 all-time 4:16.00 in the event. She also ran 2:06.54 in the 800 and was fourth at last December’s NXN.

Elise Cranny (Boulder, Colo.): As a junior, she broke out with US#3 all-time in the 1,500 meters (4:15.07) at Stanford. She was a triple winner at the Colorado state meet and beat Efraimson in their head to head meeting (by a step) in Portland. She also won the New Balance Indoor mile and was seventh at NXN.

Sabrina Southerland (Queens, N.Y.): The senior had a great season for Benjamin Cardozo, winning the New Balance Indoors 800 (2:03.59), the Millrose Games HS mile and the Armory Collegiate junior 1,000. She also anchored the US#1 DMR at the Penn Relays.

Sarah Baxter (Simi Valley, Calif.): Still only a junior, Baxter is on her way to surpassing her idol Jordan Hasay as California’s most decorated distance runner. She won the CIF 3,200 meters again, won Arcadia again and won the NXN title, again.

Raevyn Rogers (Houston): Perhaps she belongs in the sprints category, but her junior year bests of 53.34 and 2:03.32 merit acknowledgement. She won the Word Youth bronze medal in the 800.

Honorable mention: Erin Finn (Mich.), Anna Maxwell (Calif.), Amy-Eloise Neale (Wash.), Bethany Neeley (Ind.), Hannah Debalsi (Ct.), Katie Knight (Wash.), Erin Clark (Ore.).

SPRINTS/HURDLES

Ky Westbrook (Ariz.): She won some of the biggest 100-meter dashes out there, including gold at the World Youth Champs. She also won at Arcadia, the adidas Dream 100, New Balance Outdoors, the World Youth Trials and of course her home state of Arizona. Her only loss in the 100 came at Great Southwest. She ran US#2 11.33 for the 100, US#4 23.37 for the 200 and also threw US#15 47-9 in the shot put. She’s still got another season left.

Ana Holland (Colo.): After a stunning Class 5A state meet triple (100-200-400), Holland won the USA Junior 200 (23.04w). She posted season bests of US#2 11.33 in the 100, US#3 23.29 in the200 and US#3 52.49 in the 400.

Ariana Washington (Calif.): The Long Beach Poly standard bearer had another exceptional season, running US#4 11.39 for 100 and US#2 23.18 for 200. She was unbeaten on the way to CIF titles in both events and also beat great fields at Great Southwest.

Kali Davis-White (Fla.): The Golden South 200-meter champ ran the fastest time in the nation this year at 23.05 She also held down US#7 in the 100 (11.51). She also ranked No. 1 indoors with 23.48.

Olivia Baker (N.J.): She showed impressive range from 100 to 800 at the state level and was US#5 in the 400 (52.71). She earned the silver at the World Youth Championships in the 400 and a gold medal as a member of the 4x4 relay.

MaryBeth Sant (Colo.): The senior posted a stunning time of 11.25 that held up as US#1 and she also ran US#9 in the 200. She was second in both the adidas Dream 100 and Great Southwest.

Kendall Baisden (Mich.): She closed a great career in Detroit with a victory in the AAU Junior Olympics 400 but also was US#2 in the 400 (52.03) and was the fastest prep in the U.S. junior nationals 400.

Kadecia Baird (N.Y.): The Medgar Evers star was inconsistent outdoors but rallied late with a US#1 51.32. She was outstanding indoors, whether anchoring her team in the 4x200 (US#1 1:37.29) or cruising to the second-fastest 300 of all-time (37.54).

Sasha Wallace (Calif.): A versatile athlete, she ran US#2 13.43 in the 100-meter hurdles to go with US#2 in the triple jump (42-4). The Oregon recruit gained hurdle titles at U.S. Juniors, CIF Champs, Arcadia and Golden West. Indoors she had US#1 in the 60 hurdles (8.17) and won at New Balance Indoors, Brooks and Simplot. She is also one of the athletes of the year in the jumps.

Jade Miller (Calif.): Set herself apart as the nation’s top long hurdler, with US#1 41.02 in the 300 hurdles and US#1 57.21 in the 400 hurdles. She won U.S. Junior and AAU titles as well as CIF, Arcadia and Golden West.

Kendell Williams (Ga.): She could become an Olympian some day in the heptathlon but don’t overlook the fact that she nailed down the US#1 time in the 100 hurdles (13.23). She also scored 5,481 in the heptathlon and US#3 20-9.75 in the long jump. She won U.S. Junior and AAU Junior Olympic titles in the heptathlon and also won New Balance Outdoors in the 100 hurdles. She is part of any discussion about multis, hurdles and jumps. (See below).

Dior Hall (Colo.): She broke the 30-inch national record in the 100-meter hurdles (the height for Youth Champs) by running them in 13.01. She went on to take silver in Ukraine in that event. Indoors, she was tied for US#1 in the 60 hurdles at 8.17 and outdoors she was US#4 with 13.53.

Honorable mention: Hannah Cunliffe (Wash.), Shamier Little (Ill.).

JUMPS

Keturah Orji (N.J.): A late-season rush brought her to a new level, with No. 2 all-time 44-11 in the triple jump as well as 20-11.75 in the long jump. At the World Youth Champs, she took silver in the long jump, bronze in the triple.

Courtney Corrin (Calif.): A certified future star thanks to a U.S. freshman record 21-0 long jump. She won New Balance Outdoors, the World Youth Trials, Mt. SAC, Arcadia and CIF titles in the event. She was also fifth at the World Youth Champs.

Chyna Ries (Colo.): In addition to a 11.65 best in the 100, Ries jumped US#5 20-4.5 outdoors and US#6 19-3.5 indoors. She won at Great Southwest and also at Simplot.

Kira Moreland (Calif.): With wind-legal marks over 20 feet at four different meets, and a best of US#4 20-7, she was easily one of the most consistent jumpers in the country.

Rachel Proteau (Ore.): She took down one of the oldest records in Oregon when she cleared the high jump bar at 6-1 in the state championships at Hayward Field. She also won the U.S. Junior title to make her second national team.

Cyre Virgo (Pa.): Co-No. 1 outdoors with a clearance at 6-1 in an April dual meet, the talented sophomore also won titles at Penn Relays and the Pennsylvania state meet. She also won New Balance Indoors.

Annie Rhodes (Texas): A standout performer in the pole vault with a clearance at US#1 14-0 outdoors and US#1 13-10 indoors. She had victories at Texas Relays and New Balance Indoors and finished second at the Texas state meet and New Balance Outdoors.

Lakan Taylor (Texas): She matched Rhodes indoors with 13-10 and was US#2 outdoors with 13-11. She posted wins at Texas 4A state and USATF Junior Olympics.

Desiree Freier (Texas): The final member of Texas’ impressive triumvirate, Frier beat Rhodes at the Texas 5A meet and had an outdoor best of 13-9.

Honorable mention: Vashti Cunningham (Nev.), Kaitlyn Merritt (Calif.), Emily Savage (Ct.), Bonnie Draxler (Wis.).

THROWS

Maggie Ewen (Minn.): She confirmed her status as the nation’s top shot putter with No. 2 all-time 54-8.5 and she also threw US#2 in the discus with 179-6. She swept titles at the Minnesota state meet, New Balance Outdoors and also won U.S. juniors in the discus. Indoors, she threw 54-1, also good for No. 2 all-time.

Megan Glasmann (Utah): A very strong year in the javelin included US#2 168-1 in Finland, plus victories at U.S. Juniors, New Balance Outdoors and USATF Junior Olympics.

Haley Crouser (Ore.): It wasn’t the season that Crouser wanted, with a nagging foot injury keeping her from extending her national record in the javelin. However, she did win the Oregon state meet for the fourth time, threw US#1 171-11 and surpassed 160 feet four times.

Stamatia Scarvelis (Calif.): The top combo thrower in California threw US#2 52-1.75 and US#11 161-6 in the discus. She won the CIF title in the shot put and also got wins at Golden West and Stanford. Indoors, she won at Simplot.

Valarie Allman (Colo.): The national leader in the discus (184-2), she won at Arcadia, Texas Relays, Golden West and placed fifth at the U.S. Junior nationals.

Ashlie Blake (Nev.): She won a bronze medal at the World Youth Champs in the shot put (58-11 with the lighter implement). She also ranked US#3 in the regular shot put (51-8.5) and US#16 in the discus (157-0). She won the shot put at the World Youth Trials and also at Arcadia.

Honorable mention: Jess Woodard (N.J.), Sabrina Gaitan (Ga.), Casidy Callahan (Ga.).  

MULTIS

Kendell Williams (Ga.): She leaves high school as the national record holder in the heptathlon outdoors and the pentathlon indoors. She probably competed in more track meets, and in more events, than just about anybody ... ever. For her efforts, she was named the Gatorade Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Honorable mention: Kendall Gustafson (Calif.), Alexa Harmon-Thomas (Kan.), Felicia Majors (Va.)

 RELAYS

Long Beach Poly (Calif.): When Ariana Washington is your anchor leg, and you wear the colors of Long Beach Poly, good things happen. The girls ran US#1 44.93 in the 4x100 at the CIF championships. No one else was close.

Columbia (N.J.): Olivia Baker helped power her team to New Balance Outdoor titles in the 4x400 and a US#1 time of 3:40.36, and also the sprint medley with US#1 3:52.07.

Benjamin Cardozo (N.Y.): Sabrina Southerland and Deajah Stevens proved to be a winning combination as the spearheaded the team to distance medley championships at New Balance Indoors and the Penn Relays.

Williams, by the way, had just USA Juniors and then that AAU win which wasn't too great.  Then she also had the huge national record pentathlon win at NBNI.