Efraimson vs Cain at Millrose - Can she keep it close?

It doesn't really matter. I hope Efraimson PBs in the event.

It is a big step to go from being a high school star always running off the front, to in the pack getting jostled by women older and stronger than you. It's a great learning experience for her.

Flotrack have Efraimson listed under top professional women... journalistic error or did I miss her going pro?

she didn't go pro.

fisching wrote:

Flotrack have Efraimson listed under top professional women... journalistic error or did I miss her going pro?

One the starting line, most definitely.

Alexa ha a personal best of 4:39.25 for 1600 and she has not done any speed work for this race. She will be doing good if she breaks 4:40 which in itself would probably stand as the fastest among high school runners.

http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=3650447

Is there a reason why she's running in that race rather than the HS mile then? Is she just looking for a challenge?

Correction: you should have said "fastest among high school runners, except for that one who ran 4:24 recently..."

Dedicated Runner wrote:

Alexa ha a personal best of 4:39.25 for 1600 and she has not done any speed work for this race. She will be doing good if she breaks 4:40 which in itself would probably stand as the fastest among high school runners.

http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=3650447

xenonscreams wrote:

Is there a reason why she's running in that race rather than the HS mile then? Is she just looking for a challenge?

she was invited to run in the race......can't turn down an invite like that.

BIGFAN wrote:

xenonscreams wrote:

Is there a reason why she's running in that race rather than the HS mile then? Is she just looking for a challenge?

she was invited to run in the race......can't turn down an invite like that.

Makes sense, thanks. Should be quite the experience.

Dedicated Runner wrote:

Alexa ha a personal best of 4:39.25 for 1600 and she has not done any speed work for this race. She will be doing good if she breaks 4:40 which in itself would probably stand as the fastest among high school runners.

http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=3650447

This.

Cain should be around 4:20-4:25. Efraimson probably about 15 seconds back (somewhere in the mid/upper 4:30's I'm guessing, though if this were late in the season I'd be saying low 4:30's and maybe even high 4:20's). 30m (~5 seconds) isn't too realistic when you're talking about Mary Cain, who has already ran 4:24.11 this year, versus an off-season race for Alexa Efraimson.

I think Cain will PR by at least 0.02 seconds and nab the WJR.

Efraimson is probably focusing on outdoor, so she's probably just doing like 50-60 mpw with a weekly tempo or something, just basic base work. Efraimson will run like 440 on a good day, 445 on an average day, 450 on a bad day. With speed work she could run 430 mid though.

Efraimson will surprise and run 430-435. She has improved leaps and bounds from last year. I love how the fools on this board think that being a little sharp in February will ruin outdoor. She will be fine.

Walker Red wrote:

Efraimson will surprise and run 430-435. She has improved leaps and bounds from last year. I love how the fools on this board think that being a little sharp in February will ruin outdoor. She will be fine.

I agree! sub4:30? Maybe a little early...but for sure later in the season. I'm excited to see this race! Either way it will be a great experience for a 16 year old.

BIGFAN wrote:

xenonscreams wrote:

Is there a reason why she's running in that race rather than the HS mile then? Is she just looking for a challenge?

she was invited to run in the race......can't turn down an invite like that.

I understand not turning down an invite, but this is not a race for someone in 4:40 shape; the other girls will be so far ahead that there isn't much to be gained. Running off of the back is one thing, but when you are completely separated from the field is not good. Perhaps there is something that we don't know, but I can't understand traveling thousands of miles if you are no at least looking for a PR.

trackcoach wrote:

BIGFAN wrote:

she was invited to run in the race......can't turn down an invite like that.

I understand not turning down an invite, but this is not a race for someone in 4:40 shape; the other girls will be so far ahead that there isn't much to be gained. Running off of the back is one thing, but when you are completely separated from the field is not good. Perhaps there is something that we don't know, but I can't understand traveling thousands of miles if you are no at least looking for a PR.

We don't know that she's only in 4:40 shape. That was just one poster's opinion on here, who (as far as I know) has no connections to or insider knowledge about Efraimson and her current level of fitness.

Three women ran 4:35.99+, plus another DNF, last year at Millrose. Only one (plus another DNF) at that level the year before, but the ENTIRE FIELD was that slow in 2011 (Hall won in 4:15.35 for 1500m that year). If she's in the mid 4:30's, she's not going to be separated from the field.

Baxter beat Cain in XC. Efraimson beat Baxter, ergo, Efraimson will beat Cain. Simple deductive reasoning.

Dedicated Runner wrote:

Alexa ha a personal best of 4:39.25 for 1600 and she has not done any speed work for this race. She will be doing good if she breaks 4:40 which in itself would probably stand as the fastest among high school runners.

http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=3650447

Considering that the record was 4:38.5 before Cain shattered it and it was the oldest record on the books, I would say anything under 4:40 would be VERY, VERY good. Crazy to think that Cain might beat Efraimson by 15+ seconds in a race where Efraimson might become history's 2nd fastest HS indoor miler.

Also this will not be Alexa's first race of the season. She is in the fast section of the women's 3k at UW. This will help give a better picture at the kind of shape she is in.

Efraimson 4:16 1500 (at world youth championships). Improved over last year, she'll be towed along by some good runners at Millrose. But running indoors. 4:35. Second fastest HS ever.

Cain is learning how to run from the front - 4:22.1. 5th fastest time ever at Wanamaker (behind Decker, Melinte, Decker Tabb, Jacobs, Slaney) and 2nd fastest clean time (counting Decker's 1980 win as clean, but not her times in 1982 and 1985).