Simpson began the 2011 season strong, winning the Mile and 3000 meters championships at the 2011 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. 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.
Formerly Jenny Barringer, Simpson proved over her four years at Colorado that she isn't just a great collegiate or even American athlete, but is one of the best in the world In her time at CU, she has earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, two world teams, is a seven All-American (four in outdoor track, two in cross country, one indoor), an 12-time All-Big 12 honoree (nine track, three cross country) and is a seven-time all-region honoree (four track, three cross country). Barringer owns the American record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 9:12.50 and owns several stadium records in the steeplechase (Drake Stadium, 9:29.20; Ed Weir Stadium, 9:44.46; John Jacob Track and Field Stadium, 9:26.20 and John MacDonnell Field, 9:25.54). She is also the NCAA Championship Meet record holder (9:25.54) as well as the NCAA Midwest Region record holder (9:26.20). Barringer has won three international meets (two in the steeplechase, one in the 5k) and has earned numerous awards over the past four years. She has proven that she isn't just a steeplechaser as she owns the collegiate record in the indoor mile (4:25.91), 3k (8:42.03) and the 5k (15:01.70) as well as the outdoor 1,500 (3:59.90), steeplechase (9:25.54) and 5k (15:07.64); and on top of that she owns seven CU records. Her times in the indoor 3k and 5k were the fifth fastest in the world during the 2009 season (first and second, respectively, by an American) and her mile was the fastest of the year. Barringer became the third fastest woman in the 1,500 at the Prefontaine Classic when she shaved over eight seconds off her PR to record a sub-four minute time at 3:59.90. It was the third fastest time in the world and she was the second best performer in the event. Her most recent accomplishment was winning the steeplechase at the USATF Outdoor Championships for the second time in three years. At the world championships in 2009, Barringer became the eighth fastest performer in the event of all-time. The next year Simpson would sign a shoe contract with New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Oviedo (FL)
University of Colorado
August 23, 1986
Mark Wetmore
Indoor:
Mile: 4:25.91 (2009, Big 12 Meet, stadium, collegiate and school record)
3,000-Meter: 8:42.03 (2009, NCAA Meet, collegiate, stadium and school record)
5,000-Meter: 15:01.70 (2009, stadium, collegiate and school record)
Outdoor:
800-Meter: 2:01.20 (2011)
1,500-Meter: 3:59.90 (2009, collegiate and school)
Steeplechase: 9:12.50 (2008, Collegiate, American and school record)
5,000-Meter: 15:05.25 (2009, school record)
2012: Olympic Team Member
2011: Double National Indoor Champion in the Mile and 3000m, placed 2nd at the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500m. Gold medal winner the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Daegu.
Three-time Big 12 Champion; Four-time NCAA Champion; Four-time Midwest Region Champion; Nine-time All-Big 12; Five-time All-American; Two-time USATF Steeplechase Champion; 9th in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games; 5th in 2009 World Championships; American Record Holder in the Steeplechase
