Alexa E. looked dominant in Oregon, making the rest of the field look like children, but her time was a disappointing 2:09.36.
Meanwhile Elise Cranny returned to run another 800 (after last night's 2:06) and smoked a 2:04.81.
I wouldn't be a nickel on either one of these girls to beat the other at a mile, but Cranny certainly made her case this weekend.
Apples and oranges. Cranny ran 2:04 in a national caliber open race and Alexa ran against other Oregon HS girls. Cranny might have an edge on her on the 800, but not by 4.5 seconds.
Efraimson ran 2:06 last year. She might not have run that time this year, but I don't think anyone would say she's slower this year.
2:04? Great race for Cranny!
Cranny is also more if a 800/1600 runner. While Ephraimson is more a longer distance runner.
Look at it wrote:
Cranny is also more if a 800/1600 runner. While Ephraimson is more a longer distance runner.
There's no real evidence to make that distinction yet. Cranny doesn't have a flashy 3200 time because of altitude and the shorter races she has chosen to run at sea level. But she obviously showed her endurance potential in xc, and not just at nationals. She won a 6k race at altitude over a college field that included the CU women.
she didn't make them look like children. they already looked like children. they are children actually. great observation
impaired wrote:
Look at it wrote:Cranny is also more if a 800/1600 runner. While Ephraimson is more a longer distance runner.
There's no real evidence to make that distinction yet. Cranny doesn't have a flashy 3200 time because of altitude and the shorter races she has chosen to run at sea level. But she obviously showed her endurance potential in xc, and not just at nationals. She won a 6k race at altitude over a college field that included the CU women.
Agreed. From what we have seen, they both appear to be milers with good range from 800m-5k (probably down to 400m, and Cranny up to at least 6k). Definitely is not a case of Speed vs. Endurance, for that comparison look at Baxter. Probably can't go sub-2:10 for 800m, probably can't break 60 for 400m, but could run a great 10k and is on their level at 5k. That's a long distance runner. A 4:32.15y/4:16.00m girl vs. a 4:15.07m girl that are close at 5k does not mean they are different types of runners. Quite the opposite - they appear to be very similar, the only differences being that Efraimson has tried her hand at a couple longer races this year while Cranny still hasn't (and probably won't, unless she tries for the 3k at World JR Qualifiers instead of 1500), and Cranny has gotten into an pro 800m field while Efraimson has not.
Right now they are both milers with good range from 800 to 5K. Cranny is probably better at 10k because she has a triathlon background, Alexa would probably win at 400 meters because she is a bit bigger and stronger. Both amazingly good, hope they get to race head to head again soon. Elise out kicked Alexa in a 1500 last season and Alexa won NXN with a great move with about 400 to go. I wonder if either would consider running the steeplechase? Would be good for either of them and would spread out some of this incredible distance talent.
The title of this thread is stupid. Elise ran 2:08 against high school girls last week. It's a terribly unfair comparison, when one is running against pro's.
They seem pretty evenly matched. I'll be sad if we don't get to see them battle it out over 1500m again like we did last year.
Alexa Efraimson has shown herself to be much better at competitive racing than she is at time-trialing at this point in her career.
We have learned, not surprisingly, that two outstanding high school girl runners can run faster times when competing against good college/pros runners than against other high school runners.
The one interesting race would be Efraimson vs. Cranny at a one mile or 1500 meters, but it would probably turn tactical and come down to a kick, and who knows which one would win?
Cranny beat Efraimson at 1500m last season.
Another thing to note about Efraimson and Cranny this weekend is that they were both doubles, coming back from Friday night. Cranny went 2:06 -> 2:04 and Efraimson went 4:44.6 in the 1600 -> 2:09.
Observation is correct - Alexa is NOT a time-trialist, she is a racer. Times in races will only be a reflection of the quality of the competition. Cranny can run Ok on her own as can Cain. One type isn't any better than the other really, except when chasing records. All are too young yet to know how this will play out in races down the line - in 2 years anyway if all 3 are at the Olympic trials and trying to run 1500m. I don't see any of the three having moved up to 5000m by then - what would be the hurry. However, Cain has the proven wheels (sub-2.00 800m) to stay at 1500m. Whether the other two do as well will unfold during that time-frame.
2.04 is great for Cranny, and this will definitely help determine what events each will contest at World Junior this summer - all 3 can't race the 1500m - assuming they all make the team. With Judd (haven't heard much from her this year) and Hinriksdottir presumably doing the 800m, there is a medal on the table for that event (if Cain doesn't double) yet the 3000m usually has some wonderkind African women (likely overage but whatever) running under 9.00.
catnip is a PED wrote:
Observation is correct - Alexa is NOT a time-trialist, she is a racer. Times in races will only be a reflection of the quality of the competition. Cranny can run Ok on her own as can Cain. One type isn't any better than the other really, except when chasing records. All are too young yet to know how this will play out in races down the line - in 2 years anyway if all 3 are at the Olympic trials and trying to run 1500m. I don't see any of the three having moved up to 5000m by then - what would be the hurry. However, Cain has the proven wheels (sub-2.00 800m) to stay at 1500m. Whether the other two do as well will unfold during that time-frame.
2.04 is great for Cranny, and this will definitely help determine what events each will contest at World Junior this summer - all 3 can't race the 1500m - assuming they all make the team. With Judd (haven't heard much from her this year) and Hinriksdottir presumably doing the 800m, there is a medal on the table for that event (if Cain doesn't double) yet the 3000m usually has some wonderkind African women (likely overage but whatever) running under 9.00.
When it comes to world juniors 1500 and above, it seems like no matter how fast a kid we put out there, the Africans will come up with some unheard of athlete who is better. Right now there are a couple of Africans who have been training in a pro group for the last 2 years who are likely 20+ and will be on the European circuit immediately after WJs; the fact is, a WJs victory is not a slam dunk even for Cain.
I would be very surprised if Alexa didn't run at least 2:03 this year. Indoors, she closed her 4:32 with a 2:12, and has shown that her wheels at least can match Cranny.
Is Cranny doing the Adidas Dream mile this year, or will they not meet until summer?
I would like to open a funeral home with Elise's dad, just for the fun we could have with the sign out front advertising our business.
Trajan wrote:
It's a terribly unfair comparison, when one is running against pro's.
To runneth against prose, beseechest us mucho.
Ugh.
Dennis Nook wrote:
I would like to open a funeral home with Elise's dad, just for the fun we could have with the sign out front advertising our business.
Anonymous Pseudonym wrote:
I would be very surprised if Alexa didn't run at least 2:03 this year. Indoors, she closed her 4:32 with a 2:12, and has shown that her wheels at least can match Cranny.
Is Cranny doing the Adidas Dream mile this year, or will they not meet until summer?
Eh, I don't think closing in 2:12 necessarily indicates 2:03. That's a big leap.
Also, to my knowledge the only time they've raced on the track (1500m last season) Cranny won.
I was at the Relays, and Efraimson lead wire-to-wire, on a very windy afternoon at Hayward Field, the day after an dominant leg in the DMR. Anything but disappointing.