Efraimson grabs first overseas victory as a pro runner

Alexa Efraimson continues to expand her running horizons.

Efraimson won the 800 meters Wednesday at the International Athletics Meet in Liege, Belgium for her first victory overseas as a professional runner.

Her time of 2 minutes, 1.11 seconds was a personal best and her second victory at that distance this year. She won on May 17 at the Portland Twilight meet in 2:01.13.

Wednesday’s meet was Efraimson’s third European race in the past eight days. She also ran the 800 meters on Saturday at the Guldensporen Meet in Belgium, placing second in 2:01.33. On July 7, she placed third in the 1,500 meters in Lignano, Italy, finishing in 4:05.63.

Wednesday, Efraimson held off Great Britain’s Alison Leonard, who was 0.21 seconds behind. Her training partner, fellow American McKayla Fricker, finished third in 2:02.06.

It was a nice rebound for the Camas 18 year old, who failed to make the 1,500 meter finals last month at the U.S. Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Efraimson owns the nation’s fourth-fastest 1,500 meter time this year, having run 4:03.39 at the Prefontaine Classic on May 30 in Eugene. That was the fastest 1,500 ever run by an American younger than 20.

Her 800 meter time on Wednesday is the 17th fastest by an American this year.