Jenny Barringer Simpson, who I now claim as a Missourian after having married former Liberty High School and Truman State runner Jason Simpson last year, became the second American woman to claim the Outdoor World Championship Gold Medal in the 1500 meters since the inaugural bi-annual event in 1983 when Mary Decker-Slaney earned Gold. Barringer-Simpson, who now lives in Colorado Springs, CO, claimed the title Thursday in Daegu South Korea, in 4:05.40.
The University of Colorado alum that grew up in Iowa and Florida had a historic collegiate career. In 2009 she broke the collegiate record for the indoor mile (4:25.91) indoor 3000 (8:42.03) and indoor 5000(15:01.70). Outdoors she set the collegiate record in the 1500 breaking the four minute barrier at the Prefontaine Classic in 3:59.09, on the off weekend before NCAA Nationals. At the world Championships in 2009 she set the American and Collegiate record in the steeplechase with an unreal comeback over the final lap or two to place fifth in 9:12.50.
USATF.org release:
…”Women’s 1500m Final
In the women's 1500m final, Jenny Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) started in the middle of pack for the first 400m then faded to the back. At the bell Simpson found herself in seventh place and began working her way back closer to the leaders. Simpson started to surge ahead with 200m to go. Coming down the homestretch and running in lane two, she moved into third, then second and ultimately into first, as she distanced herself by two-tenths of a second over runner-up Hannah England of Great Britain in a winning time of 4:05.40. Simpson first appeared shocked, then overjoyed as she realized she won the world championship title, becoming just the second American to win the title since Mary Decker in 1983.”
In the women's 1500m final, Jenny Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) started in the middle of pack for the first 400m then faded to the back. At the bell Simpson found herself in seventh place and began working her way back closer to the leaders. Simpson started to surge ahead with 200m to go. Coming down the homestretch and running in lane two, she moved into third, then second and ultimately into first, as she distanced herself by two-tenths of a second over runner-up Hannah England of Great Britain in a winning time of 4:05.40. Simpson first appeared shocked, then overjoyed as she realized she won the world championship title, becoming just the second American to win the title since Mary Decker in 1983.”
…”Jenny Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Women’s 1500m
“It is something that you dream about. It’s not like you just go and win a race. Everything has to come together at the right time. You have to make it through the first round and a prelim. This is the U.S. team - you have to make the U.S. team. Just making this U.S. 1500m team is difficult. I think I ran the same time tonight that I ran in the U.S. championships to get here. Just getting here was such a thrill and I think I was really calm coming into tonight because what more can I ask for - I’m in the final and I’m healthy.
“The last few meters was all about where my head was going into (the 1500m final). Standing on the line, I was thinking about what this could mean for my life and what this could mean for my family. My little sister [Emily] is serving in the army, so I thought, ‘man, if I win gold I get to play that national anthem for her.’ So coming down the last 100 meters I was thinking about my little sister and thinking, ‘let’s get that song playing.’
“Shannon (Rowbury) medaled at the last world championships and Morgan (Uceny) has been on fire all year, so I think this has been such an incredible American buildup to something that I was able to do tonight. I don’t want to lose sight of the way they pioneered back up to the world stage in the 1,500m with me.”
1500 Metres - W FINAL
01 September 2011 - 20:55
Position Bib Athlete Country Mark
1 919 Jennifer Barringer Simpson USA 4:05.40
2 88 Hannah England GBR 4:05.68
3 327 Natalia Rodríguez ESP 4:05.87
4 645 Btissam Lakhouad MAR 4:06.18
5 347 Kalkidan Gezahegne ETH 4:06.42
6 688 Ingvill Måkestad Bovim NOR 4:06.85
7 180 Mimi Belete BRN 4:07.60
8 861 Tugba Karakaya TUR 4:08.14
9 906 Nataliya Tobias UKR 4:08.68
10 982 Morgan Uceny USA 4:19.71
11 586 Hellen Onsando Obiri KEN 4:20.23
12 184 Maryam Yusuf Jamal BRN 4:22.67
Joe Battaglia Universal Sports Day Recap, including Simpson: http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/blogs/blog=blockheadblog/postid=553448.html#thirst+victory+williams+simpson+ends+u+s+title+droughts
Jenny is a great athlete but a better person. I’ve spoken with her once or twice and always enjoy listening to her interviews. She is such a humble, genuine person, whose not only talented and works hard but appears to be thankful of all of her opportunities and blessings in life and handles things the best she can no matter what comes her way.
Congrats Jenny! and Jason!!!
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