Before the sun had even risen in many parts of the U.S. on September 1 of last year, Jenny Simpson shocked the world when she came from behind to take the gold in the 1500m at the World Track & Field Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in what Runner’s World described as “the best development for elite American middle distance and distance running since Deena Kastor was winning marathons.”
While her epic win was an amazing personal victory, it meant just as much — if not more so — in a larger historical context, as she became the first American-born athlete to win a gold medal at an international event in nearly three decades. Because of its limited success internationally, USA Track & Field isn’t traditionally considered to be a strong contender when it comes to worldwide competitions. With this victory, Jenny hopes to change that perception.
The thrilling final showcased both Jenny’s speed and her tactical smarts, as she bested race favorites Maryam Jamal from Bahrain, Hannah England of Great Britain and fellow American Morgan Uceny. The key to her win came down to her decision to patiently stay on the inside and then aggressively take to the outside when the opportunity arose in the last 300 meters, a tactic she had implemented in the preliminaries but not executed to perfection until the final. Now Jenny, the girl who grew up in a small town in Florida, and the legendary Mary Decker Slaney stand alone as the only American women to have won the IAAF World Championship in a distance event since the inaugural World Championships in 1983.
Jenny Simpson has excelled in just about everything she’s put her mind to. Since setting the American record in the steeplechase in 2009, Jenny soon focused her attention on the 1500m, and won the gold medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. In 2007, Jenny got her first taste of international competition at the World Championships in Osaka while only a sophomore at the University of Colorado. As a junior the following year, she represented Team USA at the Olympics in Beijing, where she set a new American record in her event. Just as impressive as her long list of collegiate accolades, her volunteer work includes participating in local adopt-a-road programs, Habit for Humanity projects, and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.
Follow Jenny on Twitter.
Text courtesy of New Balance.
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