Cain turns pro, plans to attend U. of Portland

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor 

High school record-holder Mary Cain has turned professional and will move to Portland to continue to train with coach Alberto Salazar.

Cain, of Bronxville, N.Y., said she intends to attend the University of Portland and has applied for admission there. She hasn't been accepted yet, but that would seem to be a formality.

News of Cain's decision broke to sign with PACE Sports Management broke Friday morning coincidentally around the same time that Portland was awarded the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

By going to school at UP -- most known athletically for its women's soccer team -- Cain will be able to continue her education while working in a training group that includes Shannon Rowbury, Treniere Moser and Jordan Hasay. UP is a small Catholic university situated on the bluff in North Portland and has an enrollment of about 4,000. Cain will obviously not be allowed to compete for the Pilots.

One of Salazar's sons, Alex, attended UP and was a conference player of the year for the Pilots soccer team. 

Cain visited the UP campus in September, the day after taking an official visit at the University of Oregon.

Cain has not competed this cross country season but instead used the time to refine her running mechanics after reaching the finals and placing 10th at the IAAF World Championships in the 1,500 meters in Moscow. 

After placing second to Sarah Baxter at the Nike Cross Nationals last December, Cain went on to smash U.S. high school records at distances between 1,500 and 5,000 meters.