Efraimson places fifth at U20 World Championships

With 200 meters to go, Alexa Efraimson was where she wanted to be.

But despite challenging for the lead late in the 1500 meter race, the Camas runner placed fifth at the U20 World Championships on Sunday in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Ethiopia’s Adanech Anbesa won in 4 minutes, 8.07 seconds followed by fellow Ethiopian Fantu Worku in 4:08.43.

Efraimson finished in 4:10.23.

Sunday’s event completes a busy stretch for Efraimson, who placed sixth at the U.S. Olympic Trials two weeks ago in Eugene, Ore.

Efraimson entered Sunday’s race with the fastest personal-best in the field, by virtue of her American junior record time of 4:03.39 set last year.

After qualifying second-fastest on Friday, Efraimson said her goal was to become the first American woman to win a medal in the 1,500 at the U20 World Championships, formerly known as the World Junior Championships.

Instead, that distinction belongs to Christina Aragon, a Stanford-bound runner from Montana who placed third on Sunday.

Sunday’s race was quick from the beginning, with European U20 champ Bobby Clay leading the field through 800 meters in 2:14.96.

Efraimson was among six runners battling for the lead with 200 meters to go. But the Ethiopians were fastest down the homestretch.