Efraim Harju

Efraim Harju was a Finnish middle and long-distance runner who represented Kälviän Tarmo. At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics Harju ran in the 1,500 metres, finishing fourth in his heat and not advancing to the final. In the 3,000 metres team event the United States beat the Finnish team in the first heat in what was described as a major upset. Despite Finland’s Hannes Kolehmainen setting an individual world record, the team’s combined top-three scores were slightly slower than the Americans.

Harju ran in the cross-country event but did not finish the course. The best three individual times counted towards the final placings, with the Finnish team winning the silver medal. Harju’s performance was not counted towards the result, however, with him and four other Finns not being awarded with a medal. Harju was also scheduled to run in the 5,000 metres but he did not start the race.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 4:13.0 (1912); 3000 – 9:03.0 (1912).