BYDGOSZCZ, Poland – Stanford incoming freshman Christina Aragon became the first American in history to medal in the women's 1,500 meters at the IAAF World Under-20 Track and Field Championships, earning bronze Sunday on the final day of competition.
Aragon, a recent graduate of Billings (Mont.) Senior High School, was third in a personal best 4:08.71. The time makes Aragon the fourth-fastest U.S. junior ever, jumping Suzy Hamilton from No. 5 on the list.
The World U-20 meet, formerly the World Juniors, takes place every two years. Aragon's performance marked the second time in as many meets that a future Stanford runner placed among the top four. In both cases, Aragon, and Elise Cranny, who was fourth in 2014, was the top non-African. This year, Cranny won the Pac-12 title and set a Stanford school record of 4:09.54 while finishing second at the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a sophomore.
During the first two laps Sunday, Alexa Efraimson, the U.S. junior record-holder at 4:03.39, was content to let Britain's Bobby Clay set the pace, running just behind her and coming through 400 in 1:08 and 800 in 2:15.
Efraimson took the lead by the 1,000 mark, and then yielded it to Ethiopia's Adanech Anbesa as they entered the final circuit with Aragon lurking in the lead pack. As the top four came off the final bend, Aragon made a final push to take over third and held off a challenge from Kenya's Winfred Mbithe to take the bronze. Anbesa was first in 4:08.07 and countrywomen Fantu Worku second in 4:08.43. Efraimson finished fifth in 4:10.23.
Stanford, with Aragon, Cranny and incoming freshman Ella Donaghu, will have three of the seven-fastest high school 1,500 runners of all-time on its team next season. Aragon is No. 4 on the list, Cranny (4:10.95) is No. 5, and Donaghu (4:14.11) is No. 7.
Stanford's freshmen class also includes U.S. junior 5,000 champion Fiona O'Keeffe (15:56.84), the No. 5 high school two-miler of all-time, Hannah DiBalsi (9:55.05), and Sarah Walker, who has clocked 2:03.70 in the 800.
Aragon and Stanford's cross country teams report on Sept. 1 and take part in the USF Invitational at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on Sept. 3 before heading to training camp in the eastern Sierra resort town of Mammoth Lakes.