2016 Olympic Games

Martinez, Simpson, Rowbury Qualify for Olympic 1500m Semifinal

Martinez, Simpson, Rowbury Qualify for Olympic 1500m Semifinal

Brenda Martinez, Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury advanced from their respective preliminary rounds to advance to the women's 1500m semifinals at the 2016

Aug 12, 2016 by Meg Bellino
Martinez, Simpson, Rowbury Qualify for Olympic 1500m Semifinal
Brenda Martinez, Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury advanced from their respective preliminary rounds to advance to the women's 1500m semifinals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.



Martinez kicked things off for Team USA by finishing in a comfortable third behind World record-holder Genzebe Dibaba and Ireland's Ciara Megeean. Top six auto-advance from each heat, with the next six time qualifiers also moving on. Simpson was fourth in a much-faster second section led by 1500m World Indoor Champion Sifan Hissan and 2016 world leader Faith Kipyegon. Rowbury's third and final section proved to be the fastest, as the American record-holder finished second behind Ethiopia's Dawit Seyaum. See the full list of qualifiers and finish times below:

Women's 1500m Olympic Semifinalists:


Auto Qualifiers:

Dawit Seyaum 4:05.33 (ETH)
Shannon Rowbury 4:06.47 (USA)
Laura Muir 4:06.53 (GBR)
Rababe Arafi 4:06.63 (MAR)
Sifan Hassan 4:06.64 (NED)
Faith Kipyegon 4:06.65 (KEN)
Meraf Bahta 4:06.82 (SWE)
Sofia Ennaoui 4:06.90 (POL)
Zoe Buckman 4:06.93 (AUS)
Jenny Simpson 4:06.99 (USA)
Malika Akkaoui 4:07.42 (MAR)
Besu Sado 4:08.11 (ETH)
Genzebe Dibaba 4:10.61 (ETH)
Ciara Mageean 4:11.51 (IRL)
Brenda Martinez 4:11.74 (USA)
Linden Hall 4:11.75 (AUS)
Angelika Cichocka 4:11.76 (POL)
Konstanze Klosterhalfen 4:11.76 (GER)

Time Qualifiers:
Nicole Sifuentes 4:07.43 (CAN)
Violah Lagat 4:08.09 (KEN)
Laura Weightman 4:08.37 (GBR)
Danuta Urbanik 4:08.67 (POL)
Jenny Blundell 4:09.05 (AUS)
Diana Sujew 4:09.07 (GER)

The 1500m women's semifinal will take place on Sunday, August 14 at 7:30PM Central.