Every time I see this list I get PO’d seeing Houlihan at the top. Amazing to me that someone can be serving a ban for doping and still have a performance from the year before considered legal!
Also puts into perspective how slow Simpson and Uceny’s PRs were, considering how good they were. I mean 2011-2017 Simpson was probably the second-best 1500 runner in the world and she only ran 3:57? 10k runner Cranny is at 3:58 enroute to a mile. Pretty weird.
To get an idea how great of a racer Jenny Simpson was, here is a list of runners she has beaten in CHAMPIONSHIPS (WC or Olympics):
Faith Kipyegon Sifan Hassan (2X) Laura Muir (2X) Genzebe Dibaba (2X) Caster Semenya Helen Obiri (2X – once was a fall) Maryam Jamal Nancy Langat
She would go 3:54 today for sure with shoes tracks etc...
Ima say 3:58.7 in 10th place for McGee, beating Cavalli and one more woman who overcooks it or wakes up feeling tired.
Cory McGee run 3:58? What were you thinking?
I agree McGee is fit enough to run a 3:58. But to run that fast, she'd have to stop being Cory McGee, and run for time rather than to win.
She ran today's race the say she's run every other fast race she's been in. She went out "too fast" and ended up so gassed on the last lap that she faded bigly.
Instead of being disappointed that she once again didn't break 4:00, I think we should celebrate her sticking to her guns, and running her race. She's a gutty runner who refuses to run for place, even when she knows that means she won't run as fast as she could.
Ima say 3:58.7 in 10th place for McGee, beating Cavalli and one more woman who overcooks it or wakes up feeling tired.
Cory McGee run 3:58? What were you thinking?
I agree McGee is fit enough to run a 3:58. But to run that fast, she'd have to stop being Cory McGee, and run for time rather than to win.
She ran today's race the say she's run every other fast race she's been in. She went out "too fast" and ended up so gassed on the last lap that she faded bigly.
Instead of being disappointed that she once again didn't break 4:00, I think we should celebrate her sticking to her guns, and running her race. She's a gutty runner who refuses to run for place, even when she knows that means she won't run as fast as she could.
How can you not appreciate that sort of inegrity?
And to your point, although she faded, none of the other US 1500 racers even made it to the finals and if they did, the results would not have been better. Kudos to McGee and her gutsy race. Lots to learn and more to come
I agree McGee is fit enough to run a 3:58. But to run that fast, she'd have to stop being Cory McGee, and run for time rather than to win.
She ran today's race the say she's run every other fast race she's been in. She went out "too fast" and ended up so gassed on the last lap that she faded bigly.
Instead of being disappointed that she once again didn't break 4:00, I think we should celebrate her sticking to her guns, and running her race. She's a gutty runner who refuses to run for place, even when she knows that means she won't run as fast as she could.
How can you not appreciate that sort of inegrity?
And to your point, although she faded, none of the other US 1500 racers even made it to the finals and if they did, the results would not have been better. Kudos to McGee and her gutsy race. Lots to learn and more to come
More to come at 31? Unlikely. After Paris she might be done. Jenny Simpson had a long career, but more due to smart racing than pace. Now you gotta run 3:54 to even be in the mix for medals.
The first two slow laps Cory was trapped in the pack and getting jostled all around like the inside of a washing machine. I think she panicked on lap 3 and spent a lot of fuel getting free at just the wrong time just as the big moves started being made. Firmly believe she can do better than this and still rooting for her
Honestly, I think 3:58/59 is as good as Cory will ever be. And if she doesn’t run that at the end of this season, she might just be a 4 flat girl forever. She has had a nice progression up until the last 3 years, where all of her seasons bests are 4:00.xx. She is 31 as others pointed out. I don’t think she’s gonna pull an Ciara and suddenly run 3:56. And it’s not like she hasn’t been in races where 5+ girls are all going under 4. She’s been in a ton of them over the past couple years.
And I know she was the only USA runner in the final, but if she was in heat 2 of the semis, you really think she would’ve made it given her 10th place today? She got lucky
Also - not just concerning Cory - I don’t know if their are an Americans in the women’s 1500 that will be competing for medals in the coming years unless someone drops a massive 3:55/3:56.
For some reason I thought ESP had run 3:56 but her, heather, Sinclaire, Elise are all at 3:58, Nikki and Josette at 3:59, cory at 4:00 over the past couple of years. Sure these are great times for Americans, but the way the 1500 is run now, they won’t cut it unless they are dragged to a huge pb( as people pointed out before, I think cranny might have the most potential given her time is from this year during 5k/10k - like sharpen her up and see how fast she can go )
Unfortunately the best prospect for this event was Houlihan. A bummer really.
Also - not just concerning Cory - I don’t know if their are an Americans in the women’s 1500 that will be competing for medals in the coming years unless someone drops a massive 3:55/3:56.
For some reason I thought ESP had run 3:56 but her, heather, Sinclaire, Elise are all at 3:58, Nikki and Josette at 3:59, cory at 4:00 over the past couple of years. Sure these are great times for Americans, but the way the 1500 is run now, they won’t cut it unless they are dragged to a huge pb( as people pointed out before, I think cranny might have the most potential given her time is from this year during 5k/10k - like sharpen her up and see how fast she can go )
Unfortunately the best prospect for this event was Houlihan. A bummer really.
What about the 19-year old who finished 5th at the US champs?
Also - not just concerning Cory - I don’t know if their are an Americans in the women’s 1500 that will be competing for medals in the coming years unless someone drops a massive 3:55/3:56.
For some reason I thought ESP had run 3:56 but her, heather, Sinclaire, Elise are all at 3:58, Nikki and Josette at 3:59, cory at 4:00 over the past couple of years. Sure these are great times for Americans, but the way the 1500 is run now, they won’t cut it unless they are dragged to a huge pb( as people pointed out before, I think cranny might have the most potential given her time is from this year during 5k/10k - like sharpen her up and see how fast she can go ),
Unfortunately the best prospect for this event was Houlihan. A bummer really.
Agree with everything above, especially regarding Shelby . . . after her 3:54.99 in Doha, who knows how fast she might be now . . . Shelby even mentioned one time she wanted to break 3:50 before her career is over . . . while Jerry thought she could be the first woman under 14:00/5k.
US women are actually very deep in the 1500 . . . have 22 of top 100 in world this year, far more than any other country . . . but no one in the top-15:
EPSP will help a lot when she returns next year . . . could even be the Trials favorite along with NBB teammates McLean and Mackay . . . but again, we're talking current prs of 3:58 - 3:59 . . . unfortunately, Paris is looking like it will be a replay of Budapest.
US had such a promising group of hs phenoms in Cain, Efraimson and Murphy back in the 20-teens . . . many thought they would be amongst the worlds best by now . . . wasn't apparent at the time that their athletic career paths would lead them all over a cliff . . .
More to come at 31? Unlikely. After Paris she might be done. Jenny Simpson had a long career, but more due to smart racing than pace. Now you gotta run 3:54 to even be in the mix for medals.
Agreed. This was her last hurrah on a US team. She might have a chance to make an indoor team since the competition is usually a little diluted. But with the return of Elle Purrier-St Pierre and the rise of Addy Wiley in 2024, she has no chance to make the Paris team, even if Mu sticks with just the 800m. She only made the team by 0.01 seconds this year. Farewell and adieu.
I mean it could be Wiley, but as pointed out above, Cain / Eframison did nothing after their teen years of running fast. She only ran 4:03 this year annd needs to drop another 8 seconds off that so even if she continues to improve, I don’t think Wiley will contend for the medals in the next two years (Paris & Japan). She might get down in that same 3:58/3:59 range by then.
And I guess if we are talking young people, a certain 21 year old beat Wiley at USAs in the 15 and has a 5 seconds faster 800 pr. People are 1500 Athing Mu doubters and maybe she can’t be as competitive at worlds in the event, but she’s gotta be another 3:57ish runner in the right race I’d think.
Mackay did break out a little this year! And she’s only 25 so serious threat to make the Paris team, but then we have stories like Josette, who had a break out year 2 years ago and can’t get under 4 again.
And yes the US women are deep if you start counting at 3:58…………but 5or 6 at 3:58/9 is compared to Australia having 2 at 3:57, GB has 2 at 3:56 or faster, Ethiopia has like 4 faster than 3:56.
