Jenny Simpson collapsed while pacing a group of runners in the mile at the Sir Walter Running Pop Up Miles event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Tuesday night, as first reported by LetsRun. As of Wednesday morning, Simpson, 39, is still being treated at the hospital. 

Sir Walter Running, the organizers of the race, shared a statement following the event. 

"Friends, last night, there was a medical incident involving Jenny Simpson at the Pop Up Miles event. 

We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who responded immediately, as well as EMS and the medical professionals who handled the situation with such care, urgency, and professionalism. 

Jenny is receiving excellent medical care, and our thoughts are with her and her family during this time. 

We are also thankful to everyone who has reached out with concern and support. We ask that you continue to keep Jenny and her family in your prayers as we all hope for the very best."

Simpson is the most accomplished U.S. 1500-meter runner in history. While running for the University of Colorado, Simpson set several collegiate records—she still holds the 1500-meter record at 3:59.90—and claimed four NCAA titles. As a professional runner, Simpson became a three-time Olympian and earned four global championship medals, including world championship gold in 2011 and bronze at the 2016 Rio Games. Following 11 U.S. titles on the track, Simpson retired from competitive running after completing the 2024 New York City Marathon. 

In February, Simpson started a new role as Fleet Feet’s first Chief Running Officer. In the spring, she joined FloTrack’s broadcast team as one of the hosts of The Athlete’s Lounge, a live watch-along show where Olympians and world champions recap the Diamond League series.

Since FloTrack’s inception in 2006, Simpson has been a mainstay in amplifying women’s running and now elevating the team’s coverage as an expert analyst—sharing key insights from an insider’s perspective on the highest level of the sport. 

“Jenny has been a cherished friend to so many of us in the running community for years, and more recently became an invaluable member of the FloTrack family,” said FloTrack general manager Ryan Fenton. 

“We join the entire running community in hoping for her strength and recovery and are keeping her and her family in our thoughts and prayers.”