Mary Cobb is a 1995 graduate of Pittsfield High School.. Upon graduation from Pittsfield H.S. Mary earned a scholarship to Stanford University. According to her high school coach Rob Colantuono “In track, she never lost a race in Ma., running the 400, 800, mile, and 2 mile.” She won the 3000 at the Penn Relays defeating NorristownN.J. senior Donna Fidlerand by five seconds running a time of 9:37.51. In her senior she was also the National High School Mile Champion running in North Carolina, setting a national meet record when she ran 4:45.48

Last July Brian Sullivan of the Berkshire Eagle wrote an article about Mary. He recalled Mary’s high school career by saying, ” Mary Cobb was the greatest female distance runner in the history of Pittsfield and Berkshire County, and …was considered to be the best female runner to come out of the state since Lynn Jennings in the late 1970s Cobb was dubbed by one Eagle sportswriter as "The Duchess of Distance." Cobb had a less-than-auspicious beginning to her high school career. She failed to win her first cross-country race during the fall campaign and didn't come home a winner in her second race. But she never lost another Berkshire County race after that. Cobb was the Berkshire County cross country champion in 1991, 1992 and 1994 and repeated in those years as Western Mass. champion. She was state champion in both 1992 and 1994. She finished second in 1991 as a freshman, one second behind the winner. You might be saying what about 1993? Much to the disappointment of her coaches, Cobb moved with her family to California, but was able to convince her parents to allow her to come back to Pittsfield for her senior year. In 1994, Cobb won the Foot Locker Eastern United States Cross Country Championship and placed third in the national championship later that year. The spring track season saw little change. Cobb never lost the one-mile run in a dual meet and that event would soon be known as ‘Mary's Mile." Cobb set a state record in the mile during her senior season when she ran a 4 minute, 41 second time while winning the Western Mass. title. Later that year she was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year in track and field. Cobb attended Stanford University and would become a member of the cross country and track teams. 

A 1998 Stanford Cross Country pre-season publication stated that: …led by Mary Cobb as captain …, the Stanford women will continue to fly the Cardinal colors. Mary Cobb is a six-time All-American, and the captain of the 1998 squad. She led an impressive cross country campaign last fall, running consistently in the top three throughout and finishing 22nd at the NCAAs as Stanford's third woman. Cobb has been a prominent component of Stanford's rise to national contention. Her talents are priceless, and her leadership will prove pivotal in shaping the women's season. … As a veteran of the 1996 NCAA Championship squad, she understands the elements of a highly successful season. Mary is still ranked in the top 10 at Stanford in cross country running 17:05 on their home course. On the track Mary ran 9:27.37 in the 3k and 16:04.21 in the 5k. Mary was a 6x All-American at Stanford. Her team was conference champions 3 out of her four years, they were national champions in 1996. In her junior year, she finished 4th at both the Pac 10 and the NCAA west regional championships. Moving back east after her graduation, coach Colantuono became her coach again. Her training for the 2000 Olympic trials were going very well. Unfortunately, about three weeks prior to the trials in Sacramento, she suffered a lower leg injury. She competed in the 1500 meters and ran a respectable 4:17, but the lack of quality training leading up to the trials had hurt her and she finished out of the money.

Mary attributes most of her success to three people, in Mary’s words, “As a young runner, I was very inspired by Lynn Jennings. She accomplished so much, and was so talented (and was from Massachusetts). I was also very inspired by my high school track and field coach, Rob Colantuono. He had great confidence in me, and was able to guide me to greater heights year after year (even post-collegiate). Most of all, however, I contribute my success as a runner to my mother, Sara Cobb. Beginning when I was 8 years old, she registered me and my siblings in a Mother's Day Race each year. We used to 'train' for the race, practice visualizing the race, and 'carbo-load' the night before.”

Mary Cobb highlights include:

1991 WMass Cross Country Champion

1992 WMass and State Mile Champion

1992 WMass and State Cross Country Champion

1993 WMass, State and New England Mile Champion

1994 WMass, State and Footlocker Eastern Region Cross Country Champion

1995 IAAF World Cross Country Junor Championships – 25th place

1995 WMass, State and National Mile Champion, Penn Relay 3000m Champion

1995 Gatorade Track & Field Player of the Year

11 Time NCAA All-American:

Cross Country - 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998

Indoor & Outdoor Track – 3K, 5K and DMR in 1996 - 1999

US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 1500m: 1996, 2000 and 2004.

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