diff --git a/java/src/main/java/com/optimizeme/CollectionUtils.java b/java/src/main/java/com/optimizeme/CollectionUtils.java
index b1e28be..b96657b 100644
--- a/java/src/main/java/com/optimizeme/CollectionUtils.java
+++ b/java/src/main/java/com/optimizeme/CollectionUtils.java
@@ -8,21 +8,91 @@
 public class CollectionUtils {
 
     public static <T extends Comparable<T>> List<T> mergeSorted(List<T> a, List<T> b) {
-        List<T> result = new ArrayList<>(a.size() + b.size());
-        int i = 0, j = 0;
-        while (i < a.size() && j < b.size()) {
-            if (a.get(i).compareTo(b.get(j)) <= 0) {
+        int na = a.size();
+        int nb = b.size();
+        List<T> result = new ArrayList<>(na + nb);
+
+        // Fast path for random-access lists: avoid duplicate get() calls by caching current elements
+        if (a instanceof java.util.RandomAccess && b instanceof java.util.RandomAccess) {
+            if (na == 0) {
+                if (nb > 0) result.addAll(b);
+                return result;
+            }
+            if (nb == 0) {
+                if (na > 0) result.addAll(a);
+                return result;
+            }
+            int i = 0, j = 0;
+            T aval = a.get(0);
+            T bval = b.get(0);
+            while (i < na && j < nb) {
+                if (aval.compareTo(bval) <= 0) {
+                    result.add(aval);
+                    i++;
+                    if (i < na) {
+                        aval = a.get(i);
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    result.add(bval);
+                    j++;
+                    if (j < nb) {
+                        bval = b.get(j);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            while (i < na) {
                 result.add(a.get(i++));
-            } else {
+            }
+            while (j < nb) {
                 result.add(b.get(j++));
             }
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        // Generic path for non-random-access lists: use iterators to get O(n) traversal
+        java.util.Iterator<T> ita = a.iterator();
+        java.util.Iterator<T> itb = b.iterator();
+
+        if (!ita.hasNext()) {
+            while (itb.hasNext()) {
+                result.add(itb.next());
+            }
+            return result;
         }
-        while (i < a.size()) {
-            result.add(a.get(i++));
+        if (!itb.hasNext()) {
+            while (ita.hasNext()) {
+                result.add(ita.next());
+            }
+            return result;
         }
-        while (j < b.size()) {
-            result.add(b.get(j++));
+
+        T aval = ita.next();
+        T bval = itb.next();
+
+        while (true) {
+            if (aval.compareTo(bval) <= 0) {
+                result.add(aval);
+                if (ita.hasNext()) {
+                    aval = ita.next();
+                } else {
+                    // drain remaining from b (including current bval)
+                    result.add(bval);
+                    while (itb.hasNext()) result.add(itb.next());
+                    break;
+                }
+            } else {
+                result.add(bval);
+                if (itb.hasNext()) {
+                    bval = itb.next();
+                } else {
+                    // drain remaining from a (including current aval)
+                    result.add(aval);
+                    while (ita.hasNext()) result.add(ita.next());
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
         }
+
         return result;
     }