by Larry Eder
Jenny Simpson is one of our favorite athletes. She is articulate, thoughtful and obviously enjoys her profession. Like Deena Kastor, Jenny Simpson is developing into a brand herself, and a positive brand at that.
In 2010, when New Balance’s Tom Carleo signed the recently graduated collegian, many second guessed Carleo and New Balance. In 2011, Jenny Simpson won the world championships with a brilliant run over the final stretch. Fluke ! Fluke ! some detractors said.
In 2012, Jenny Simpson had a series of injuries and some good races, and some not so good. Her Olympic performance was not up to her standards.
In 2013, Jenny Simpson put it all together and took second to Abeba Aregawi in the world championships in Moscow. I was so happy to watch her in Luzhniki Stadium, as Simpson put it all together on the right day and the right time. Gold and silver in consecutive world championships were now in the possession of Jenny Simpson.
In 2014, Jenny Simpson was, well surpreme. Her only miscue was a two mile indoor race in Boston, miscounting laps, but gutting out an AR over two miles. In the Stade de France in St. Denis, France, Jenny Simpson and Sifan Hassan dueled over 1,500 meters, with Simpson taking second and running 3:57.22, the second fastest ever by an American.
After the mid summer break for Commonwealth Games and European Championships, Jenny Simpson came back with a focus, winning the Stockholm DL 1,500 meters over Abeba Aregawi, Sifan Hassan and the rest of the world. In Zurich, Jenny Simpson not only won, but held off Shannon Rowbury in the final steps. A week later, in Brussels, Jenny ran a fine 3,000 meters, setting another PB.
Jenny Simpson ended her season winning the Fifth Avenue Mile, ending her season with a fine win in 4:19, and a very fast road mile!
Simpson won the Jackie Joyner Kersee Female U.S. Athlete of the Year award in December. Track & Field News ranked her numero uno in the 1,500 meters in the world this past week. And RunBlogRun is giving her our U.S. Female athlete of the Year for 2014!
Jenny Simpson is the best women’s miler in the world. We look forward to seeing her racing in
Beijing!
Special thanks to the Shoe Addicts for preparing our video salute to Jenny Simpson.
