Jenny Simpson, Shannon Rowbury and Alexa Efraimson - But Not Mary Cain - Will Race in Women's 1500 at 2015 Pre

LetsRun.com · 2015-05-19T16:03:16-04:00

We received the following press release from the Pre Classic this afternoon. [quote][b]The Pre Classic wrote:[/b] [b]America’s Best Women are World’s Best in Pre Classic 1500][/b] (The 41st Pre Classic, a member of the IAAF Diamond League of elite international track & field meets, will be held May 29-30 at historic Hayward Field.) Eugene, Oregon – Traditionally, American women have had trouble making it to the top of the podium of the Pre Classic 1500. But this year, look for a strong U.S. group to make a strong statement at the front of the pack. Jenny Simpson is the only American to rank No. 1 in the Track & Field News world rankings women’s 1500 meters since Mary Slaney did it twice in the '80s. The IAAF Diamond Trophy winner last year, Simpson matched another Slaney feat in 2011, winning the World Championships gold medal. She ran a lifetime best of 3:57.22 last year – just a tenth of a second off Slaney’s 31-year-old American record. The 28-year-old Colorado alum has done big things at Pre before, in ’09 becoming the only collegian ever to break 4:00 in the 1500, while finishing 2nd. Shannon Rowbury has ranked among the world’s top 10 by T&FN in six of the last seven years, including four times as the top American. Rowbury was the best American in the last two Olympics (6th in 2012 after a 7th in 2008) and earned bronze in the 2009 World Championships. She is coming off her best indoor season, scoring a victorious mile/2-mile double at the U.S. championships and winning the Millrose Games mile at 4:24.32. She also has the fastest 5k PR in the field at 14:48.68. Treniere Moser is a four-time U.S. champion who is running her best in her 30s. Now 33, she has recorded PRs at every distance above 800 in the last two years, including a mile PR 4:27.49 this year. Moser set her 1500 PR in the 2013 Pre Classic. She ran on USA’s World Record-setting distance medley with Rowbury at the World Relays earlier this month. Emma Coburn is America’s best-ever steeplechaser, bettering the American record last year set by Simpson, a fellow Colorado grad. Coburn won last year’s IAAF Continental Cup and ranked No. 2 in the world by T&FN – best ever by an American. A former NCAA indoor mile champ, her 1500 best is 4:05.29. And there's newcomer Alexa Efraimson, who at 18 has two years remaining in the Junior ranks. Last weekend she lowered her 800 best by over 2 seconds to 2:01.13 (winning by almost 5 seconds), making her the fastest Junior in the world so far this year. She won the U.S. Junior 1500 title last year as a 16-year-old, and in 2013 joined Jordan Hasay as the only boy or girl to win a distance medal at the World Youth Championships with a bronze. She dazzled fans with her sprint finish to win the 2013 Nike Cross Country Nationals. Then there are the international stars: Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands trailed only Simpson in last year’s T&FN world rankings. She won the European Championships last year as a 21-year-old and added a silver medal in the 5k. This year she won gold in the European Indoor. Hassan was fifth in last year’s fantastic Pre Classic, when five ran sub-4 (the only race ever on U.S. soil with more than two). Bahrain’s Maryam Yusuf Jamal is a two-time World Championships gold medalist (2007 & 2009) who earned the 2012 Olympic bronze medal. She has ranked No. 1 five times in T&FN’s world rankings. Jamal won a 1500/5k double in last year’s Asian Games (giving her four career golds dating to 2006). Fastest in the field with a lifetime best of 3:56.18, she also has the fastest 800 PR at 1:57.80. Another young runner in the field is Ethiopia’s Axumawit Embaye. As a 19-year-old, she earned silver in last year’s World Indoor Championships. The Pre Classic will be her first race on U.S. soil. Great Britain’s Laura Weightman and Hannah England have combined for every national 1500 record since 2010 (England 3, Weightman 2). England, a former NCAA champion while at Florida State, is a two-time World Championships finalist, earning silver in 2011 behind Simpson and a 4th in 2013. Last summer, Weightman claimed bronze in the European Championships and silver in the Commonwealth Games. She owns an 8-6 career head-to-head record over England in the 1500, with their only U.S. pairings in the last two Pre Classics (where they are 1-1). Renata Pils is a five-time Polish champion in distances ranging from 800 to 3000 meters. She has been her country’s fastest 1500 runner in each of the last four years. Australia’s Zoe Buckman called Eugene home for four years while running for the University of Oregon. She won two Pac-10 titles and was fourth in the 2008 NCAA 800. In last year’s Pre Classic, she set her 1500 PR at 4:04.09. A three-time Australian champion, she was a finalist in the 2013 World Championships, finishing 7th. [b]Women’s 1500 Meters Personal Best[/b] Maryam Yusuf Jamal (Bahrain) 3:56.18 Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) 3:57.00 Jenny Simpson (USA) 3:57.22 Shannon Rowbury (USA) 3:59.49 Laura Weightman (Great Britain) 4:00.17 Hannah England (Great Britain) 4:01.89 Axumawit Embaye (Ethiopia) 4:02.35 Treniere Moser (USA) 4:02.85 Renata Pils (Poland) 4:03.50 Zoe Buckman (Australia) 4:04.09 Emma Coburn (USA) 4:05.29 Alexa Efraimson (USA) 4:07.05 Fans can follow the event lineups as all announced fields are posted at PreClassic.com. The direct link to current start/entry lists is HERE and will include updates to all announced fields. Tickets for the 41st annual edition of the Prefontaine Classic, to be held May 29-30 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., are available now from goducks.com and from 1-800-WEBFOOT. Sponsored by NIKE continuously since 1984, the Prefontaine Classic will be shown live to an international audience and by NBC Sports from 1:30 till 3:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 30. The Prefontaine Classic is the longest-running outdoor invitational track & field meet in America and is part of the elite IAAF Diamond League of meets held worldwide annually. The Pre Classic’s results score has rated No. 1 or No. 2 in the world in each of the last four years by All-Athletics.com, the official data partner of the IAAF Diamond League. Steve Prefontaine is a legend in the sport of track & field and is the most inspirational distance runner in American history. He set a national high school 2-mile record (8:41.5) while at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay, Oregon, that is the fastest ever in a National Federation-sanctioned race. While competing for the University of Oregon, he won national cross country championships (3) and outdoor track 3-Mile/5000-meter championships (4), and never lost a collegiate track race at any distance. As a collegiate junior, he made the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team and nearly won an Olympic medal, finishing 4th in the 5K at the 1972 Munich Olympics, at age 21. After finishing college in 1973 and preparing for a return to the Olympics in 1976, he continued to improve, setting many American records. His life ended tragically on May 30, 1975, the result of an auto accident, at age 24. The Pre Classic began that year and has been held every year since.

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11 years ago 05/20/2015 10:47am EDT

re: alanson

alanson wrote:
Jenny just ran 2:00.79. She has a shot at the AR in the Pre. I expect, as we have seen from her recently, a front running performance that leaves the rest of the Americans in the dust. She' s got the speed now and no reason not to put the hammer down to get one major accomplishment that's missing from her resume. She might tow Rowbury to sub-4 also, but there's nothing to indicate that Shannon can compete with her this year.
If Alexa is savvy enough to survive the pace we could see a new AJR. But her record so far is to take on the leaders at suicidal mid-race pace. Great heart, but I don't think she's got the base or speed yet to compete with Jenny. If she shoots for sub-4 she won't take down Cain's AJR.
I believe the women's 1500m record is our oldest major track running AR on the books. (There is Wohlhuter's 1k record, a minor event not often competed outdoors). Also, it's a rarity when an AR is set on American soil.

I would love to see Jenny challenge the AR and smoke people, but I am not getting my hopes up just because she ran 2:00.79. Two years ago she ran 2:00.45 at the same meet in winning fashion.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 11:18am EDT

re: Do her credentials warrant it

Do her credentials warrant it wrote:
What is Mackey's personal and season best times? Maybe they don't warrant a spot on the starting line. I'm Not judging, just asking!

She's run 4:07.51 to win and 15:16 at Stanford this season. PB's are 2:02, 4:04 (2013) and 15:04 (2014). I'd say she's with the cusp of getting into Pre, but I would assume the sponsorship logos don't help.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 12:49pm EDT

re: Shamir - Rachet

Sounds like Mackey's 1500m credentials put her towards the bottom of the start list which is sorted by personal best times at the end of the preview.

I can see Nike wanting to get their junior athlete (who has inferior marks) into this race and frankly I don't blame them.

Mackey does seem to have better 1500m credentials over one of the non-Nike athletes (Emma Coburn).

Not sure how Emma got onto the starting list, unless it was a condition made by her training partner?

11 years ago 05/20/2015 2:38pm EDT

re: Credentials are almost there

Credentials are almost there wrote:
Not sure how Emma got onto the starting list, unless it was a condition made by her training partner?

You seriously wonder how someone ranked #2 in the world in the steeple, is a medal threat in her event and has 9:11 / 4:05 credentials got into the meet over a 4:04 runner who isn't even a lock to make the US team?

11 years ago 05/20/2015 2:58pm EDT

re: BuffOne

Nike won't let Mackey in because they have a feud with the Brooks Beasts. They don't have a problem with New Balance, therefore Coburn gets in.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 3:14pm EDT

re: rojo

rojo wrote:
Not racing Mary seems to be the smart thing for coach Salazar. She just finished next to last at Oxy. She's clearly not ready for a DL 1500.
Sometimes as a coach, it's hard to admit things are going well and you keep trying to force it and things get even worse. Thats' clearly not the case here. It will be interesting to see what she does the rest of the season - if anything.

I saw Mary Cain running in Central Park a couple of hours ago. She's in NYC.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 3:19pm EDT

re: BuffOne

We are discussing a 1500m race, not the steeplechase

I think Mackey has a much better shot at running a faster time at 1500m over Coburn.

I think Mackey has a great shot at making the 1500m team this year.

I also don't think excelling at the steeplechase should entitle a runner to a spot in an elite 1500m race.

Yes Emma is a world class steeplechaser, but her 1500m results thus far don't really warrant a position on the Prefontaine starting line over a more qualified 1500m runner.

But according to a prior poster, it sounds like this has something to do with politics between Brooks and Nike

11 years ago 05/20/2015 3:28pm EDT

re: alanson

alanson wrote:
Jenny just ran 2:00.79. She has a shot at the AR in the Pre. .

remember JBS is playing the long game - she has to have one peak, THREE MONTHS from now. At the end of August, for Pete's sake.

The others have to be sharper now - they have to peak in one month for USAs

So I'd be very surprised if Jenny is sharp enough for an AR attempt. She's a massively good competitor but she's on a different timetable than the other women.

I think she'll sit in third position on the rail and see what she can do in the last 200 - just compete, not go for a fast time.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 3:31pm EDT

re: inside scoop

inside scoop wrote:
Nike won't let Mackey in because they have a feud with the Brooks Beasts. They don't have a problem with New Balance, therefore Coburn gets in.

Wait! What about Phoebe "I run profesh for Nike....I train with the Beasts" Wright?

Oh, wait a minute. If anyone's capable of feuding with herself, it would be Phoebe "Tennessee born and raised" Wright. You know what they say: You can take the girl out of Tennessee, but you can't take Tennessee out of the girl!

PS Go Phoebe!

11 years ago 05/20/2015 3:33pm EDT

re: Different events

Different events wrote:
We are discussing a 1500m race, not the steeplechase
I think Mackey has a much better shot at running a faster time at 1500m over Coburn.
I think Mackey has a great shot at making the 1500m team this year.
I also don't think excelling at the steeplechase should entitle a runner to a spot in an elite 1500m race.
Yes Emma is a world class steeplechaser, but her 1500m results thus far don't really warrant a position on the Prefontaine starting line over a more qualified 1500m runner.
But according to a prior poster, it sounds like this has something to do with politics between Brooks and Nike

emma coburn is a rockstar - she has 16,000 twitter followers vs just 13,000 for rowbury. EC plays the fame game really well - even if she doesn't have a great 1500 time, her in the race will bring press attention, which is the point.

It is entertainment in the end - you need press/media

11 years ago 05/20/2015 3:35pm EDT

re: inside scoop

inside scoop wrote:
Nike won't let Mackey in because they have a feud with the Brooks Beasts. They don't have a problem with New Balance, therefore Coburn gets in.

mackey has all of 5,000 twitter followers. She is just above obscurity - not all that interesting to race directors.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 3:36pm EDT

re: agip

agip wrote:
EC plays the fame game really well - even if she doesn't have a great 1500 time, her in the race will bring press attention, which is the point.
It is entertainment in the end - you need press/media

Well that is a real stretch of the imagination if you ask me.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 4:45pm EDT

re: Different events

Different events wrote:
We are discussing a 1500m race, not the steeplechase
I think Mackey has a much better shot at running a faster time at 1500m over Coburn.
I think Mackey has a great shot at making the 1500m team this year.
I also don't think excelling at the steeplechase should entitle a runner to a spot in an elite 1500m race.
Yes Emma is a world class steeplechaser, but her 1500m results thus far don't really warrant a position on the Prefontaine starting line over a more qualified 1500m runner.
But according to a prior poster, it sounds like this has something to do with politics between Brooks and Nike

You act as if Coburn has no wheels at 1500. Her PR is 4:05.29, which is only a hair slower than Mackey's 4:04.6. Last year Coburn's best 1500 was actually slightly faster than Mackey's season best (4:05.29 vs 4:05.74).

Combine that with the fact that Coburn is world class in the steeple, she gets the nod over Mackey even though it isn't her primary event. Coburn is probably capable of 4:02-03 in the right race and maybe even faster if she ran more 1500s.

Anyway, this thread is useless without pics.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 4:47pm EDT

re: Different events

Maybe the boyz in Beaverton haven't forgotten about this: https://instagram.com/p/oEfTiALYec/

11 years ago 05/20/2015 4:50pm EDT

re: rojo

rojo wrote:
Steve on a cell in Brooklyn wrote:
Because the poster is a noted boob.
I agree that nothing logically says 359. She did come down 9 seconds from 416 to 407 last year but it gets harder to pb the faster you get. The advantage she has going for her is no one has really been paying attention to her. Hell she was in the third heat of the 800 at hoka. All of the focus has been on cain.
Obviously that will change if she runs sub 405.
If she does it then hats off to the coach as he's clearly had some sick plan bhr one doesn't normally go from third at my sac in mid april to 1609 for 5k on may 2nd to sub 4 at the end of the month. That would be an incredible turnaround.

Only about half dozen U.S. women have ever run a sub-4 1500, in fact only about a half dozen women in the world ran sub-4 last year. Efraimson's 4:07 last year is equal to about a 4:02 mile for a high school boy, which is very impressive, but if she runs 3:59, that would make her better than Alan Webb's 3:53. Also, if run's 3:59, she could possibly win the race.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 4:58pm EDT

re: TrackCoach

TrackCoach wrote:
rojo wrote:
I agree that nothing logically says 359. She did come down 9 seconds from 416 to 407 last year but it gets harder to pb the faster you get. The advantage she has going for her is no one has really been paying attention to her. Hell she was in the third heat of the 800 at hoka. All of the focus has been on cain.
Obviously that will change if she runs sub 405.
If she does it then hats off to the coach as he's clearly had some sick plan bhr one doesn't normally go from third at my sac in mid april to 1609 for 5k on may 2nd to sub 4 at the end of the month. That would be an incredible turnaround.
Only about half dozen U.S. women have ever run a sub-4 1500, in fact only about a half dozen women in the world ran sub-4 last year. Efraimson's 4:07 last year is equal to about a 4:02 mile for a high school boy, which is very impressive, but if she runs 3:59, that would make her better than Alan Webb's 3:53. Also, if run's 3:59, she could possibly win the race.

I think her 4:07 is much more impressive than a 4:02 for a hs boy. 4:07 is a time that would allow someone to be competitive in professional races. A 4:02 mile in a pro race would finish at the back of the pack.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 5:52pm EDT

re: agip

I understand the argument, but I think the AR would be more important to her than World's (since she's already got two medals). The long game is aimed at the Olympics. Running at Pre puts little or no pressure on her, I think it's a good place for her to take a big risk. And it's the meet where she first broke 4.

agip wrote:
alanson wrote:
Jenny just ran 2:00.79. She has a shot at the AR in the Pre. .
remember JBS is playing the long game - she has to have one peak, THREE MONTHS from now. At the end of August, for Pete's sake.
The others have to be sharper now - they have to peak in one month for USAs
So I'd be very surprised if Jenny is sharp enough for an AR attempt. She's a massively good competitor but she's on a different timetable than the other women.
I think she'll sit in third position on the rail and see what she can do in the last 200 - just compete, not go for a fast time.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 6:04pm EDT

re: LetsRun.com

Is anyone surprised?

She is on the team best known for DUCKing compEtitive comPetitiOn.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 6:27pm EDT

re: rupp-certified saladbar

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:
Is anyone surprised?
She is on the team best known for DUCKing compEtitive comPetitiOn.

What the hell is this even referring to?

And I love how this thread becomes another prime example of LRC posters saying sh*t that they do not know to be true without any qualifier and no cited reasoning. The worst part is...other koolaid drinkers on the thread buy it without questioning.

At least one guy was savvy enough to post that Mackey Instagram photo to back up a claim.

11 years ago 05/20/2015 7:07pm EDT

re: Amazing field

Amazing field wrote:
I love this field and can't wait to see how our girls do. Is Katie Mackey racing? She has been on fire lately but I don't see her listed in the 1500m or 5k

Katie just announced that she is in the race.

https://twitter.com/KatiefMackey

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Jenny Simpson, Shannon Rowbury and Alexa Efraimson - But Not Mary Cain - Will Race in Women's 1500 at 2015 Pre

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