Jennifer Barringer
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Simpson (born August 23, 1986) is an American
middle distance
runner
and steeplechase
r. She represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Simpson holds the American record in the Steeplechase with a time of 9:12.50. She won a gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
.
, Simpson was a 5-time state champion in track and 3-time state champion in cross country. She also set Florida high school records in the mile, two-mile, 5000 m, and three-mile.
. At the U.S. trials, Simpson qualified for the United States Olympic team
by finishing third in the steeplechase.
Simpson qualified for the first women's steeplechase final in Olympic history by finishing third in her heat. She set a new American record of 9:22.26 in the final and placed ninth.
with a time of 9:12:50, finishing 5th overall.
While primarily a steeplechaser, she ran 3:59.90 in the 1500 m at the 2009 Prefontaine Classic
. At the time of the event, this performance made her the third-fastest female 1500 m runner in U.S. track and field history.
Simpson came fifth at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
, running a North American record time of 9:12.50 minutes for the event. It is also the best mark by any athlete from the Americas. She was the 2009 US Champion
in the steeplechase.
Despite the fact that she could have signed a professional contract, Simpson returned to school in the fall of 2009 to compete in Cross Country. On October 31, 2009, Simpson captured the Big 12 individual title, running a 6-kilometer course in 20 minutes, 27.46 seconds. She was favored to win the NCAA Cross Country Championship
on November 23, 2009, but collapsed after leading for the first two miles. She wound up in 163rd place. Simpson commented that she felt light headed all of a sudden.
Simpson won the Inaugural Bowerman Award
in 2009. The Bowerman
award is given to college track's Athlete of the Year.
. Simpson later changed coaches from her University of Colorado at Boulder
coach, Mark Wetmore, in favor of the Air Force Academy
coach Julie Henner.
Simpson missed most of the 2010 season due to a stress reaction in her right femur
. She married on October 18, 2010.
. She qualified for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
by finishing second in the 1500 meters at the US Track and Field Championship
.
Simpson won a gold medal at the 1500 meters at the World Championships in a time of 4:05:40. She beat rivals Hannah England
and Natalia Rodriguez
. Simpson's gold medal was considered a surprise.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
middle distance
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
and steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
r. She represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Simpson holds the American record in the Steeplechase with a time of 9:12.50. She won a gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
.
High school
As a student at Oviedo High SchoolOviedo High School
Oviedo High School is a grade 9-12 public secondary school set on a campus in Oviedo, Florida, a growing community situated in southeastern Seminole County operated by Seminole County Public Schools. The “Oviedo School” was established in 1932 as a comprehensive K-through-12 educational facility; ...
, Simpson was a 5-time state champion in track and 3-time state champion in cross country. She also set Florida high school records in the mile, two-mile, 5000 m, and three-mile.
2008
At the time of her 2008 Olympic appearance, Simpson was enrolled at the University of ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. At the U.S. trials, Simpson qualified for the United States Olympic team
United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. American athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since the 1896 Summer Olympics except the 1980 Summer Olympics, which the U.S. boycotted. The United States entered the Games as the most successful nation in...
by finishing third in the steeplechase.
Simpson qualified for the first women's steeplechase final in Olympic history by finishing third in her heat. She set a new American record of 9:22.26 in the final and placed ninth.
2009
In 2009, she set NCAA records in the mile, 3000 m, and 5000 m indoors, 1500 m, 3000 m steeplechase and 5000 m outdoors. She also topped her own American record in the Steeplechase at the 2009 World Championships2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
with a time of 9:12:50, finishing 5th overall.
While primarily a steeplechaser, she ran 3:59.90 in the 1500 m at the 2009 Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
. At the time of the event, this performance made her the third-fastest female 1500 m runner in U.S. track and field history.
Simpson came fifth at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, running a North American record time of 9:12.50 minutes for the event. It is also the best mark by any athlete from the Americas. She was the 2009 US Champion
2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships took place between June 25–28 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The competition acted as a way of selecting the United States team for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin later that year....
in the steeplechase.
Despite the fact that she could have signed a professional contract, Simpson returned to school in the fall of 2009 to compete in Cross Country. On October 31, 2009, Simpson captured the Big 12 individual title, running a 6-kilometer course in 20 minutes, 27.46 seconds. She was favored to win the NCAA Cross Country Championship
NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship
Each autumn, beginning in 1981, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has hosted women's cross country championships for each of its three divisions...
on November 23, 2009, but collapsed after leading for the first two miles. She wound up in 163rd place. Simpson commented that she felt light headed all of a sudden.
Simpson won the Inaugural Bowerman Award
The Bowerman
The Bowerman is an annual track and field award that is the highest accolade given to the year's best student-athlete in American collegiate track and field. It is named after Oregon track and field and cross country coach Bill Bowerman and is administered by the U.S...
in 2009. The Bowerman
The Bowerman
The Bowerman is an annual track and field award that is the highest accolade given to the year's best student-athlete in American collegiate track and field. It is named after Oregon track and field and cross country coach Bill Bowerman and is administered by the U.S...
award is given to college track's Athlete of the Year.
2010
In January 2010, Simpson signed a multi-year endorsement deal with New BalanceNew Balance
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. , best known as simply New Balance, is a footwear manufacturer based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. It was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company...
. Simpson later changed coaches from her University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
coach, Mark Wetmore, in favor of the Air Force Academy
Air force academy
An air force academy or air academy is a national institution that provides initial officer training, possibly including undergraduate level education, to air force officer cadets who air preparting to be commissioned officers in a national air force...
coach Julie Henner.
Simpson missed most of the 2010 season due to a stress reaction in her right femur
Femur
The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...
. She married on October 18, 2010.
2011
Simpson began the 2011 season strong, winning the Mile and 3000 meters championships at the 2011 USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsUSA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships is an annual indoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
. She qualified for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
by finishing second in the 1500 meters at the US Track and Field Championship
2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships were held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Organised by USA Track and Field, the four-day competition took place from June 23–26 and served as the national championships in track and field for the United States...
.
Simpson won a gold medal at the 1500 meters at the World Championships in a time of 4:05:40. She beat rivals Hannah England
Hannah England
Hannah England is a British middle-distance athlete who specialises in the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run.Born in Oxford, England, she attended the Cherwell School in Summertown, North Oxford. England joined Oxford City Athletic Club as an under 13, her first major success coming in the UK...
and Natalia Rodriguez
Natalia Rodríguez (athlete)
Natalia Rodríguez Martínez is a Spanish middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. She represented Spain at the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008....
. Simpson's gold medal was considered a surprise.