Jennifer Simpson

Jennifer Simpson

Jennifer Simpson competing in the steeplechase at the 2008 US Olympic Trials.
Personal information
Birth name Jennifer Mae Barringer
Born (1986-08-23) August 23, 1986 (age 25)
Webster City, Iowa, U.S.
Residence Oviedo, Florida, U.S.
Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
Height 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m)
Weight 110 pounds (50 kg)
Sport
Country  United States
Event(s) Steeplechase, 1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m
College team Colorado Buffaloes
Turned pro 2010
Coached by Juli Benson
Achievements and titles
World finals 2011, 1500 m, 1st
Olympic finals 2008, Steeplechase, 9th
Personal best(s)

800 m: 2:01.20
1500 m: 3:59.90
Mile: 4:25.91 i
3000 m: 8:42.03 i
5000 m: 15:01.70

Steeplechase: 9:12.50
Medal record
Women's athletics
Competitor for the  United States
World Championships
Gold 2011 Daegu 1500 m

Jennifer Simpson (née Barringer) (born August 23, 1986) is an American middle distance runner and steeplechaser. 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.

High school

As a student at Oviedo High School, Simpson was a 5-time state champion in track and 3-time state champion in cross country.[1] 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 Colorado. At the U.S. trials, Simpson qualified for the United States Olympic team by finishing third in the steeplechase.[2]

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.[3]

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.[3] She also topped her own American record in the Steeplechase at the 2009 World Championships with a time of 9:12:50, finishing 5th overall.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] On October 31, 2009, Simpson captured the Big 12 individual title, running a 6-kilometer course in 20 minutes, 27.46 seconds.[7] 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.[8]

Simpson won the Inaugural Bowerman Award in 2009. The Bowerman award is given to college track's Athlete of the Year.[9]

2010

In January 2010, Simpson signed a multi-year endorsement deal with New Balance.[10] Simpson later changed coaches from her University of Colorado at Boulder coach, Mark Wetmore, in favor of the Air Force Academy coach Juli Benson.[11]

Simpson missed most of the 2010 season due to a stress reaction in her right femur.[12] She married on October 18, 2010.[13]

2011

Simpson began the 2011 season strong, winning the Mile and 3000 meters championships at the 2011 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.[14] She qualified for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics by finishing second in the 1500 meters at the US Track and Field Championship.[15]

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.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=228473
  2. ^ "Willard sets US record in 3,000m steeplechase". Associated Press. July 3, 2008. http://www.nbcolympics.com/trackandfield/news/newsid=146130.html#willard+sets+us+record+000m+steeplechase. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  3. ^ a b Metzler, Brian. "Jenny Barringer's Road to Greatness". Running Times. http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=16732. Retrieved 2009-07-06. 
  4. ^ Battaglia, Joe (August 17, 2009). "Q&A: Barringer talks about her AR". Universal Sports. 
  5. ^ Battaglia, Joe (June 7, 2009). "Barringer makes history with sub-4 1500m". Universal Sports. 
  6. ^ Metzler, Brian. "Catching Up with Jenny Barringer". Running Times. http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=17812. Retrieved 2009-11-03. 
  7. ^ Poncin, Linda (October 31, 2009). "Simpson Wins Big 12 Title". CUBuffs.com. http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=204824634. Retrieved 2009-11-03. 
  8. ^ Patrick, Dick (November 24, 2009). "Liberty runner wins NCAA cross country championship". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2009-11-23-cross-country_N.htm. Retrieved 24 November 2009. 
  9. ^ Anderson, Curtis (December 16, 2009). "sp.ruppwins.1217". The Register-Guard. http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/24266605-55/bowerman-track-field-ncaa-oregon.csp. Retrieved 17 December 2009. 
  10. ^ Globe Staff (22 January 2010). "New Balance signs endorsement deal with Barringer". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2010/01/new_balance_sig.html. Retrieved 23 January 2010. 
  11. ^ Petty, Daniel (4 February 2010). "Barringer leaves Wetmore for Air Force coach". Denver Post. http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_14337857. Retrieved 16 March 2010. 
  12. ^ Monti, David. "Stress reaction forces Barringer to end season". Universal Sports. http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=480584.html. Retrieved 18 November 2010. 
  13. ^ Gambaccini, Peter. "Racing News". Runner's World. http://racingnews.runnersworld.com/2010/11/november-18-jenny-barringer-is-now-jenny-simpson-and-healthy-a-test-drive-on-houstons-olympic-trials-course-look-how-good-sam-chelanga-is-should-men-be-running-sub-200-marathons-f.html. Retrieved 18 November 2010. 
  14. ^ "Jennifer (Barringer) Simpson". US Track and Field. http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Barringer_Jennifer.asp. Retrieved 1 September 2011. 
  15. ^ "U.S. Outdoor Nationals". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1106/track-US-outdoor-nationals/content.2.html. Retrieved 1 September 2011. 
  16. ^ Steinberg, Dan (1 September 2011). "Jennifer Barringer Simpson of United States wins women’s 1,500 at world championships". Associated Press (The Washington Post). http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/jennifer-barringer-simpson-of-united-states-wins-womens-1500-at-world-championships/2011/09/01/gIQAgFU9tJ_story.html. Retrieved 1 September 2011. 
  17. ^ "Banner day for USA: 3 golds at world championships". Associated Press (USA Today). 1 September 2011. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/story/2011-09-01/Banner-day-for-USA-3-golds-at-world-championships/50216854/1. Retrieved 1 September 2011. 

External links

Awards
Preceded by
--- 		The Bowerman (Women's Winner)
2009		 Succeeded by
United States Queen Harrison