byLarry Eder
Jenny Simpson, Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net
One of the highlights, for me, of the FBK Games was the women’s mile. Jenny Simpson is a racer. She knows how to influence a race, and when to make her move. How did that come about?
Jenny Simpson makes few bad moves as a 1,500 meter racer. In her Rio bronze medal run, but especially, in her London silver medal run, Simpson made a series of moves that kept her in the battle, and allowed her to take advantage of her speed and positioning, gaining her a silver medal. Her racing skills have been hard won. Race after race, workout after workout, Simpson and her team have worked to prepare her for the upcoming battles.
In a career that has seen ten sub four minute 1,500 meters, gold and two silver medals (2011, 2013, 2017), in World Championships, and and Olympic bronze medal. To me, her silver medal in London and her bronze medal in Rio cemented Jenny Simpson as the finest American middle distance racer of her generation.
This season, Jenny Simpson is fitter than she has ever been. Her race in Eugene had her leading for much of the race, and she finished third, as four women went under 4 minutes. Here’s what she said to the media after the race:
“It was a little windy coming around the curve on the backstretch, and you remember that only when you’re the one doing all the hard work. I just did the best I could. You open up, you run as hard as you can, you dive at the line and unfortunately, I came up third.”
“I’m really happy with the run. It was my first 1,500 of the season, and it was sub-four, I did a lot of the hard work and I think it’s a very different place from Jenny Simpson one year ago.”
In the mile, Jenny Simpson made her final move on the last straightaway. Her increase in speed gave her the lead the final fifty meters to go! Her final charge across the finish line gave her the win and World Lead of 4:25.72. Simpson also lead thirteen under 4 minutes, 30 seconds for the mile.
The longest race of the FBK Games was a huge hit. It is also part of Jenny Simpson’s early European racing tour for 2018. Watch her, this could be a fast season.
