Jessica Kain, a top runner at Scotts Valley High School and now a senior at San Diego State University, was named Mountain West Conference Athlete of the Week based on her performance in the 1,500-meter run at the Aztec Invitational.
She took first with a personal best of 4:20.63.
Her time is the fourth best in San Diego State University outdoor history.
Kain ranks first in the Mountain West and 19th in the NCAA this season.
At Scotts Valley High, she was an All-State selection. Her best time in the 1,600-meter was 4:56.30, and she was named Team MVP four times.
When Kain got to San Diego State in fall 2019, she competed in three cross- country event events, finishing in the top five for the Aztecs in two races. She set a collegiate career best in the Mark Covert Classic 5k where she finished 51st out of 200 (19:36.2). Kain competed in two indoor track meets, running the Distance Medley Relay team at the UW Invitational that finished in 12:12.55, fourth best in school history.
Then the Covid-19 pandemic canceled the outdoor track season.
In the 2020-21 season, she was the top Aztec finisher in two races. She ran a personal best 21:48.0 in the Silver State Collegiate Challenge 6k to finish ninth out of 41 runners.
Then Kain had a breakout outdoor season finishing third at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in the 1,500-meter with a time of 4:21.87, the fastest by an Aztec since 1982. At the NCAA West Prelims she ran 4:24.34, finishing 25th.
Competing in 2021-22, she finished 11th in the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:30.04. She also set a personal best in the 800 meters at the Aztec Invitational with a time of 2:14.22.
She placed 15th in the Mountain West Indoor Championships in the 800 meters with a time of 2:17.47, a personal record.
In cross-country, she was the top Aztec finisher in four races including the NCAA Regional Championships. In the Mountain West Championships, she ran the 6k in 22:39.2. She participated in five 6k races including the Stump Invitational, where she posted a collegiate career best (20:56.1) She finished in the top five among Aztecs at the Anteater Opener, Stump Invitational, Dave Murray Invitational, Highlander Invitational, Mountain West Championships and NCAA West Regionals.
Academically, Kain’s major is interdisciplinary, connecting communication, sustainability and hospitality, with a minor in psychology.
“As a student-athlete, my days go fast but my mentality never changes,” she posted on LinkedIn. “I enjoy keeping a busy schedule filled with a full-time class schedule, practices twice a day, and of course, cultivating the most enjoyable, but quick meals to get to my next challenge.”
Outside of training, Kain “enjoys reading and watching documentaries that revolve around making this planet more sustainable, helping people stay positive, and finding time to cultivate my goals in my daily life.”
She adds, “I have mastered the art of working with teammates to achieve a common goal, being a leader when times are tough, along with having a positive mindset that can get me through any challenge that comes my way. I am truly a strong communicator and I am so excited to use the skills that I have gained, and continue to consummate as I move from playing a collegiate sport to finding a career that fits my passion.”