Efraimson provided a workmanlike SB 4:06 today finishing 2nd to Muir in Padova

Her development is reminding me of Ajee Wilson...which is a good thing.

She also beat Marta Freitas, the girl in 3rd, who incidentally won the 2016 NCAA outdoor title in the 1500. Safe to say that going pro early was the right choice for Efraimson.

Until she develops a real kick, she'll almost be good enough to really compete in the 1500. Me thinks 5000 is in her future. I feel the same way about Hunter.

PortlandXCGirl wrote:

Safe to say that going pro early was the right choice for Efraimson.

I'm thrilled Efraimson is doing well. We want our biggest talents to develop.

However, I think going pro, not going pro, has many many factors. It's impossible for anyone to judge who doesn't know the size of the contract, it's length, etc. And even then it might be hard to know.

I mean imagine for a moment she's in the NCAA. She would be utterly dominant. Wouldn't that be fun? It's what I miss about college basketball players going pro - I like them to become brands - and names in college. Tim Tebow might not have been a great pro quarterback but he was a legend in the college ranks. As a result, we care about him now.

If it was my daughter, I'd much rather they went to college and ran for a team, became a legend there, didn't have financial pressures, etc.

I think that's her 4th or 5th 4:06 this season. Super consistent, she should be shape to PR in a race that really goes for it. Anybody have race videos from Padova? I'd love to see this race and Hunter's 3:36.

More important: a first and second against very solid fields in her first overseas trip. Seems to be rising to the occasion.

PrZ wrote:

I think that's her 4th or 5th 4:06 this season. Super consistent, she should be shape to PR in a race that really goes for it. Anybody have race videos from Padova? I'd love to see this race and Hunter's 3:36.

Not her first overseas trip.

Not her first overseas trip.

Nice to see her out there racing. These types of races big crazy crowded fields with lots of elbows and crazy tactics will serve her well in development as a world class athlete. She would have not gotten this experience in college.

She is the legitimate future of middle distance US women.

Workwomanlike

Cmon buddy, get with the program

Of course, the odds are she'll never break 4 flat in the 1500 (here's the short list for USA: Rowbury, Slaney, Simpson, Favor Hamilton, Pierce, Wurth-Thomas).

On the other hand, here are Laura Muir's numbers at age 20: 1500 4:07.76, 800 2:00.80.

I just think that it's notable that she can grind out 4:06 on a reliable basis, and this gives some promise for cutting a couple of seconds off that time this summer.

Good for her!

She has been held to a different standard being a 20 year old pro than if she were a 20 year old sophomore (it's hard to blame people). While she hasn't cracked 4:03 this season, I think we're seeing a nice progression in terms of her racing competitiveness and consistency this season. Whenever RoJo (or is it WeJo - they look the same to me) rings the alarm bell over her not running a PR in 2 years, he should place this in context that it took Jenny Simpson 5 seasons as a 1500m pro to beat the 1500m time she ran when she was still a college steeplechaser. Obviously Jenny had some nice hardware to keep people happy with her performance, but that just shows that if you race well, the times will ultimately come.

FormerTree wrote:

Good for her!

She has been held to a different standard being a 20 year old pro than if she were a 20 year old sophomore (it's hard to blame people). While she hasn't cracked 4:03 this season, I think we're seeing a nice progression in terms of her racing competitiveness and consistency this season. Whenever RoJo (or is it WeJo - they look the same to me) rings the alarm bell over her not running a PR in 2 years, he should place this in context that it took Jenny Simpson 5 seasons as a 1500m pro to beat the 1500m time she ran when she was still a college steeplechaser. Obviously Jenny had some nice hardware to keep people happy with her performance, but that just shows that if you race well, the times will ultimately come.

Excellent post. I feel a little experimentation with different tactics might help her finish.

Carma Bum wrote:

Her development is reminding me of Ajee Wilson...which is a good thing.

Anything like Ajee Wilson is a bad thing. DRUG CHEAT!

Go to 2:11:40

http://www.flotrack.org/article/59104-watch-drew-hunter-3-36-77-1500m#.WW1LCWUdXzI

She got up front of the massive field and stayed there: 63,68,66,66

Carma Bum wrote:

Go to 2:11:40

http://www.flotrack.org/article/59104-watch-drew-hunter-3-36-77-1500m#.WW1LCWUdXzI

She got up front of the massive field and stayed there: 63,68,66,66

Thanks for posting the video. No question Muir was the class of that field, but I'm very impressed with Alexa's race - controlled for the first two laps gave it a good fight at the bell, and never gave up after being gapped.

She actually held at least even with Muir the final 50m, which is usually not her strongest part of the race.

FormerTree wrote:

Carma Bum wrote:

Go to 2:11:40

http://www.flotrack.org/article/59104-watch-drew-hunter-3-36-77-1500m#.WW1LCWUdXzI

She got up front of the massive field and stayed there: 63,68,66,66

Thanks for posting the video. No question Muir was the class of that field, but I'm very impressed with Alexa's race - controlled for the first two laps gave it a good fight at the bell, and never gave up after being gapped.

She and Muir were the class of the field. It actually appeared to me like Alexa was gaining on Muir in the last 100m and after the sprint to the front at the start of the race. The rabbit was sporadic. Love the way Alexa goes with Muir and fights her to the end, but doesn't sacrifice her race, blowing up. This young lady is really developing nicely. Great job Alexa.