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Recap - Efraimson at Dellinger Invite - XC - 2013- DyestatPublished by
Efraimson takes another step forward By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Camas, Wash. junior Alexa Efraimson turned in one of the most sensational performances of the cross country season so far when she kicked down Boise State All-American Emma Bates to win the Bill Dellinger Invitational 5K race on Saturday at Sprinfield Country Club outside Eugene, Ore. While her team went to the Sunfair Invitational in Yakima, Wash., Efraimson took on a competitive racing challenge and rose up to meet the challenge. "It gives me confidence and I am also really happy with the PR," Efraimson said on Saturday. Her 5K time is believed to be the fastest ever by a Washington girl in a cross country race. "It actually surprised me," she said. "I wanted to run fast and get a PR. As the race was going on, I felt good." It was a race loaded with girls who had made recent Washington high school history. Maddie Meyers, Katie Knight and Amy-Eloise Neale, recent prep stars and members of the University of Washington cross country team, all finished behind Efraimson. "They just said, 'Good job, Alexa,'" Efraimson said. "I did part of my cool down with the Washington girls. Mostly we just talked about life in general." Efraimson's previous 5K best was 17:06 last year. The bronze medalist from the World Youth Championships 1,500 was not shy about running up front in a strong college field. "My coach was telling me 'You're fit right now. You can get a PR.' So I was just focusing on hitting that pace," Efraimson said. "Actually that first mile (felt) a little bit slow." Bates, who was third in the NCAA 10,000 meters last spring, put a small gap on the field with 800 meters left. Efraimson decided she didn't want to concede and then heard her coach tell her to "Go!" "I figured I might as well give it all I got," she said. More news |