Seyaum moved to the front at the bell and broke away from the field over the last 200. Efraimson was in the hunt for a medal with 200 to go but couldn't hold on while Cranny moved up well for 4th, tied for the second-best finish ever by an American in an event longer than 800 at World Juniors.

Kejelcha put on a show at the end of this one, running his last 1600 in 4:07 and breaking the race wide open before winning in 13:25. So good, he reminded us of Kenny B in 2008. Americans Colby Gilbert and Brian Barraza were 9th and 13th, respectively.

The prelims of the men's 3,000 steeplechase were also held today and Arizona signee Bailey Roth set a U.S. high school record of 8:48.60 to advance to the final (Roth also holds the record in the 2,000 steeplechase at 5:41.67).

Wambui upset world #2 Sahily Diago for the win in an 800 that went out faster than last week's Monaco DL meet. Sawe led for most of the race and was simply too good in the end as he was unchallenged in the final straight.
*MB: Letsrun, do we have another 'Caster Semenya situation' in girls 800 at 2014 World Juniors?

Entering Thursday, the U.S. had won four medals in the 800 at World Juniors but none in an event longer than that. Mary Cain made history, unleashing a big kick over the final 175 meters to pull away for the gold in 8:58.48. *RRW

Cain Mania On the Messageboard: MARY CAIN DOES IT! CAIN WINS 2014 JUNIOR CHAMPS 300 IN 8:58.48!
*How fast could Mary Cain go in 3000 time trial right now?
*What is the point of the W 3000 meters at WJ Champs

Heroye and Hawi used a 4:45 second 1600 to break the field and ran away with this one, finishing 33 seconds ahead of the bronze medallist, Agnes Jebet Tirop of Kenya. Maggie Schmaedick of the USA & Oregon was 12th and missed her PR by less than a second. 

For the first time since 2008, no American will be in the girls 800 final at World Juniors where the world's #2 Sahily Diago of Cuba will be the favorite.

Cheptegei, whose 27:56 PR was 34 second better than anyone else in the field,  did all of the work after taking the lead from Japan's Keisuke Nakatani just after four miles and he was rewarded with the victory. Ethiopia's Tsegaye Mekonnen, who won the Dubai Marathon in 2:04 in January, was listed on the entries when they came out on Sunday but did not start. *IAAF

Southerland was a comfortable third in her heat of the women's 800 while Joseph missed an auto spot into the finals of the men's 1500 by just .36 seconds. Grant Fisher and Raevyn Rogers struggled and failed to advance. 

Why is Mary Cain running the 3000 and not the 1500? We think we've got the answer. And it has nothing to do with ducking Alexa Efraimson or Elise Cranny but rather with avoiding the world #2 at 800 and world #7 at 1500. With Ethiopia's Senbere Teferi entered in the 1,500 and not the 3,000, the door is open for Cain to win the U.S.'s first-ever medal at a distance greater than 800 meters -- and it could be gold. Efraimson and Cranny are seeded 3rd and 5th in the women's 1,500 and could sneak a medal, but it's going to be difficult for the rest of Team USA in the distances.