By Johanna Gretschel

Alexa Efraimson came to Bydgoszcz, Poland on a mission.

"I really want to medal," she said after running a smooth 4:13.12 in the 1500m prelims this morning at the IAAF World U20 Championships.

American junior women have three times placed fourth in the 1500m at this event, but no one has ever brought home a medal. Elise Cranny was fourth at the 2014 event in Eugene, Ore.; Jordan Hasay placed fourth in both 2008 in Bydgoszcz and 2010 in Moncton, Canada.

The 19-year-old Nike professional placed sixth in the U.S. Olympic Trials two weeks ago in 4:07.34 and she was right up in the mix as the final Rio qualifier, Brenda Martinez, clocked 4:06.16 for third.

"[Poland] was the goal all season," Efraimson said this morning in Bydgoszcz. "The Olympic Trials were really good stimulation in terms of rounds and competition level so I think this will be relatively equivalent. I learned a lot from all three of those races, so hopefully I can bring that knowledge and experience here."


The Camas, Wa. native also brings past U20 experience to the table. She made the final at the 2014 event --then called the IAAF World Junior Championships-- in Eugene, Ore., along with Elise Cranny, now of Stanford. Efraimson placed sixth overall in Eugene with a time of 4:13.31, while Cranny was fourth in 4:12.82.

Efraimson was just seventeen that year and now finds herself as a veteran, though several of her competitors also return from 2014: Winfred Mbithe of Kenya, who placed seventh in 2014's final and placed just ahead of Efraimson in the prelim today; and Bobby Clay of Great Britain, who was eighth in 2014 and placed fourth in today's prelim.

Five athletes in the field own PBs under 4:10 and Efraimson is the fastest at 4:03.39, which she ran at the Pre Classic last year.

Is she ready to run that fast again?

"I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life," she said.

The other top contenders are Ethiopian duo Fantu Worku and Adanech Anbesa, who have both run 4:05; Beatha Nishimwe of Rwanda, whose PB is 4:08.75; and --fellow American-- Christina Aragon, who is also coming off the Olympic Trials and ran 4:09.27 in June.

"She ran great," Efraimson said of her teammate. "Maybe we'll both medal."

Aragon also looked strong in the qualifying round, as she navigated from the back of the pack to fourth --the last auto qualifier spot-- by the bell lap and clocked a final time of 4:18.93.

"I tried to mentally prepare myself," Aragon said after a race of aggressive positioning and jostling elbows. "You might not always be in a position where you're comfortable, but you just have to be patient and wait and the place where you're supposed to go will come eventually.

"I just try to keep myself calm."


Aragon's own experience at the Olympic Trials culminated with a 4:12.71, ninth-place finish in the semi-final. She was the first athlete to miss the final. The time was the third-fastest of her career.

"You have to have confidence to go out there," she said of learning from the Trials, "and even if you're running with girls you aren't completely sure you can hang with, you have to --in your own mind-- say, 'you can, you can run faster than you ever have.' You don't have to set limits on yourself, you just have to take it as an opportunity."

The biggest opportunity to date for both athletes takes place this Sunday at 4:45 p.m. in Poland.

How Americans have fared in the 1500m finals at IAAF World U20 Championships:

1986 Athens
Winner: Ana Padurean, Romania, 4:14.63
Top American: Suzy Favor Hamilton, ninth, 4:23.83

2006 Beijing
Winner: Irene Jelagat, Kenya, 4:08.88
Top American: Erin Bedell, 10th, 4:20.01

2008 Bydgoszcz
Winner: Stephanie Twell, Great Britain, 4:15.09
Top American: Jordan Hasay, fourth, 4:19.02; Alex Kosinski, sixth, 4:21.26

2010 Moncton
Winner: Tizita Bogale, Ethiopia, 4:08.06
Top American: Jordan Hasay, fourth, 4:13.95

2012 Barcelona
Winner: Faith Kipyegon, Kenya, 4:04.96
Top American: Mary Cain, sixth, 4:11.01

2014 Eugene
Winner: Dawit Seyaum, Ethiopia, 4:09.86
Top American: Elise Cranny, fourth, 4:12.82; Alexa Efraimson, sixth, 4:13.31

Alexa talks after the 1500m final at the 2014 World Juniors in Eugene: