Since then, her chances to race at the national level have increased, and Finn has rarely had a bad race. Later that school year, she ran a 10:22 two mile at an indoor meet in Seattle, and a 16:41.33 for 5000 meters at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
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inn also points to another possible factor in her improvement, one that may have had an effect on other elite Michigan girls. “I really think Megan Goethals showed us that being fast was possible,” she comments. Goethals, who dominated high school running in the state for several years and became the first Michigan girl to break 10 minutes for 3200 meters, finished second this year in the NCAA 5000-meter championship. “Michigan is strong, and she showed us we can be fast and compete at the national level,” Finn says. Indeed, this year fans in the state had a feast of fast performances to watch, including those by the Meier twins (Hannah and Haley) of Grosse Pointe South. Finn is looking to further improve by competing against them over the next school year — they will all be seniors. Certainly with Hannah Meier already having run the 1500-meter equivalent of a 4:37 for 1600 meters, the all-time state record of 4:39.4 by Laura Matson of
Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net
This last summer she got an invitation to attend the Nike Elite Camp in Oregon at the same time as the Olympic Trials. “We were at the Nike World Headquarters, which was amazing,” Finn says. “We played volleyball and there was a ton of stuff to do. It was so much fun. There were coaching sessions on diet and rest and other things. We met Shalane Flanagan and Matt Tegenkamp. It inspired me to watch races and people, and made me feel that the next time I want to be at the Trials as a runner. I need to keep pushing hard.”
Erin Finn flies above the Armory track enroute to the 5,000 meter national indoor record. Bloomfield Hills Andover in 1985 is in danger. With her new 4:45 credentials, Finn could be in the mix. “It makes me wonder how next year will go, with running the 1600 and 3200,” says Finn. “If Hannah, Haley and I can all race in the state 1600, I will not be surprised if that record falls.”
For now, Finn is concentrating on cross country. “It’s my favorite,” she says. She is running about 50 miles per week (“a new high for me”) while incorporating fartlek and tempo runs. Her cruising pace? A daunting 6:40 to 7:10 for most runs. Under coach Nat Belill, she and her West Bloomfield teammates hope to make the most of another season, one in which the Meier twins are expected to lead another finals win by Grosse Pointe South. “We’re not the strongest team,” says Finn, “but we really have a lot of fun together.”
Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net
Then there’s that other part of her future she has to think about: college. Already she is being bombarded with contacts from recruiters — that tends to happen when you break a national record. “I’ve narrowed it down to about five schools,” Finn says. “Some schools are hard to say no to. Running is very important to me, but I realize that even if I’m fortunate enough to turn pro, then I might go to age 32 or so. I need a real career.” She plans to major in medical research or biomedical engineering, fine choices for a student who tends to hit straight As. “I think it’s important to work hard,” she says. “The effort I’ve learned to use in running carries over to my academics.” That Finn has a great perspective on her future at such a young age is reassuring. She knows she has something special, and she’s not about to throw it away. She finally says, “I thank God every day that he’s blessed me with this talent.” - MR -
Erin Finn shattered the national indoor record by 15 seconds. michiganrunner.net
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Michigan Runner - September / October 2012
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