Seventeen year-old running phenom Mary Cain will forego college racing and turn pro, the world famous running site, letsrun.com, reported on Friday. Already coached by Nike's Alberto Salazar, Cain, a high school senior, is expected to remain with one of the most respected running minds in the world and ink a deal with the swoosh company.

"For the past couple of months, my family and I have been debating whether I should compete at a collegiate or professional level going forward," Cain said in a press release. "I have decided, and am truly excited to announce, that I will be turning pro. I believe that, in the long run, this is the best way for me continue to develop as an athlete."

Based on time, Cain is the best female high school runner ever to compete in the United States and one of the best junior runners in the world right now. She set three American Junior records in 2012 with a1:59.51 (800M), 4:04.62 (1500m) and 4:28.25 (indoor mile), a string of PRs that could warrant a partial scholarship or more to the right DII school... for a high school boy. She's the first American under the age of 18 to break 2:00 in the 800 and her indoor mile time was the best youth mark in the world. Cain also established new US National High School indoor records in the 1500m, 3000m and 2 miles and the outdoor mark in the 5000m, lets run reported.

Based on place, Cain is also the best female high school runner ever to lace it up for the U.S. After winning the USATF Indoor mile title in Albuquerque in March (against professionals) and finishing second in the 1500m at the USATF Championships in Des Moines in June, Cain qualified for the 2013 World Track and Field Championships in Moscow (against the best professionals in the world). She made a (somewhat) surprise run to the finals and finished tenth overall, according to lets run. Cain wasn't even satisfied with the result.

"I'm not even like sad, I'm just like angry," she said after the race. "And I think that's a good thing. I think that this was all a learning experience this whole meet."

Cain's decision was long predicted by lets run, which pointed out that she has shown little interest in competing for her dominant Bronxville, NY high school team (they just won their sixth straight NY State title without her). Her parents said it was a difficult choice, mitigated by the fact that Cain could run professionally and still get a college education.

"How to proceed was always going to be a difficult choice. Mary is a straight A student and will be pursuing a college education while competing. This remains a priority and we think this approach is the best way to balance her educational and athletic goals", said her father Charles.

Cain hired agent Ricky Simms of track magnet PACE Sports Management, whose clients include world's fastest man Usain Bolt, two-time Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah, and 2012 Olympic 400m silver medalist Christine Ohuruogu, among others.

If a deal hasn't happened already, Cain will most likely sign with Nike. She'll have to if she wants to retain Salazar as her coach, according to lets run. Nike can also offer her the most money. Unless another company steps in with a significant offer, Nike will make Cain either the highest paid American female runner or the second highest behind 2011 World Championships gold medalist Jenny Simpson, lets run reported.