No matter how many events and venues Alexa Efraimson competes in, the thrill of stepping up to the starting line never fades.
“It’s one of the reasons I love racing,” said the 16-year-old from Camas. “I just get that feeling of excitement, and I know I’m ready to race.”
When she crosses the finish line, the thrill comes right back. It could be finishing in first place, attaining a new personal best time or just gaining points for her team. Efraimson relishes it all. She uses each race as a stepping stone toward the next big challenge.
“I think back to all the training I’ve done,” Efraimson said. “All of it was worth it for that one moment.”
Efraimson embraced several moments this past month. She captured two championship medals from the Class 4A state meet, in Tacoma. Efraimson won the 1,600-meter race May 23, with a meet record time of 4 minutes, 39.25 seconds. She earned the 800 state title two days later, with a meet record time of 2:08.17. On Wednesday, Efraimson became the first Papermaker to be selected as the Gatorade Washington Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.