Fearless Dreamers: The 20 Best Girls Track and Field Stars

Mary Cain, Bronxville HS, Bronxville, NY

In both name and speed, Mary Cain has established herself as the second coming of Decker Slaney. The teenage speedster turned professional as a senior in high school after earning a laundry list of accolades more befitting to an athlete twice her age. She holds National High School Records for 800m (1:59.51), 1,500m (4:04.62), 3,000m (8:58.48), 5,000m (15:45.46) and the Indoor 2 Mile (9:38.68). The half mile record is particularly impressive as Cain became the first American female prep to break two minutes. At just 17, she finished runner-up in the 1,500m at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to become the youngest American to ever represent the United States at the World Championships. A few weeks later, she became the youngest athlete ever to make an IAAF World Championships final in Moscow. In her first year as a pro, the 18-year-old Cain won the USA Indoor Track and Field Championship for 1,500m, finished runner-up in the distance at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship and won the 2014 IAAF World Junior Champion for 3,000m. She trains with the Nike Oregon Project.


<p> <em>As McFarland, USA hits theaters this weekend, MileSplit takes a look back at the nation&#39;s best high school track and field stars in history.&nbsp;</em></p>