Rojo's hot take this week: Jenny Simpson won't be on the US Olympic 1500m team

adsfdasfasfsafadfa wrote:

rojo wrote:

If she goes back to the steeple, she's got a shot at a medal.

We said the same thing when she started running the 1500m in championship events... To some extent I think we devalue the steeplechase when we suggest that a 1500m gal can just take it up and be a medal threat. Yes her 1500m time suggests she should be able to run a 9 flat and be competitive. But she also probably hasn't hurdled in 10 years let alone done a race. I think her odds of just being able to pick back up from where she was as a 22 year old are very low.

Besides, her steeple PR is 9:12 from the same season she ran 3:59 to set the collegiate record. Even when she was consistently running steeple, and a good 1500 runner, she was not a 9:00 medal contender. I think the steeple would be a mistake, I she can still run sub-4:00 in a fast race, and she’s got a very impressive kick. The list of women who can do both is just three, and both Houlihan and Purrier seem to be eyeing the 5k as a potential option. If she can get to the line healthy, she will make the team. I have no doubts.

hdjsosjsjsh wrote:

Pretty sure she’s hiding an injury. She didn’t race in 2020 after indoors and we heard very little from her. She typically does not race indoors but as a New Balance sponsored athlete she always races the New Balance Grand Prix. Except this year. If Jenny is on her A game, she makes the team. If she’s coming back from a decent injury like a stress fracture, she’s in trouble. Assuming Shelby and Purrier choose the 1500, you’ll need to be in sub-4 shape to make the team. If Simpson has had a major injury and is off her game the odds are against her.

I’m not counting her out, but I’m not counting her in, especially since I think she’s hurt.

I hope she's not hurt.

One year ago on Camel City's flat indoor 200m track, she set the Women's 3000m meet record in a blistering time of 8:51.49; that ain't shabby.

Who are the 3 (or 6 rather)?

Houlihan, Purrier, Schweizer. No question there. Next tier that can beat her if she has lost a step, Hiltz, Grace, Johnson, Rowbury.

I don't think she's hurt. I saw her out running with some CU girls last week.

Go run now wrote:

Houlihan, Purrier, Schweizer. No question there. Next tier that can beat her if she has lost a step, Hiltz, Grace, Johnson, Rowbury.

Houlihan is a no doubter. Purrier looks like a 3:58 runner but she still hasn't broken 4:00. Schweizer also hasn't broken 4 and I figure the odds of her not going with the 5k have to be about zero. Realistically we have Houlihan and then like 10 ladies who are likely in the 3:59-4:03 who all have realistic shots depending on how their training over the last year has gone. Given the lack of races for most of them it is hard to predict where people are.

yes, for all of you who think she's like 48 or 50 and not surprised by this news, you have not been paying attention. I think the more reasonable takes are that she's coming off of an injury, as some have suggested . She was one second behind houlihan, beating purrier just over a year ago. Maybe not 50 yet.

Schweizer will not be racing the 1500 at the trials.

Likely, neither will Cranny.

Jerry has them now looking at the 10k as their main or backup event.

(See tonight's The TEN race.)

Steeple? JFC, the idiocy knows no depths here. It was already assumed that it's 50/50 that she goes for the 5K. She's always been strong, and with her wheels she can kick off of the typical USOT 5K pace.

Wow. Such amazing analysis. Thanks all.

sinclaire johnson will make the team. She's the only one who can come close to Houlihan's kick. She has a 4:03 PR but ran a 55.4 open 400 in high school. She just missed out in 4th in 2019 after a long NCAA season.

accurate wrote:

sinclaire johnson will make the team. She's the only one who can come close to Houlihan's kick. She has a 4:03 PR but ran a 55.4 open 400 in high school. She just missed out in 4th in 2019 after a long NCAA season.

So has yet to show those "wheels" through the rounds at USAs. But hey, maybe Jerry Miles will do the trick.

Give it a rest. Simpson hasn't competed in the steeple since 2009, when she was a senior in college. She's made it very clear she's not going back. Pretty sure Simpson has a national team bonus in her contract so yes, there's a very good reason for her to run the 1500. If you're saying only medal contenders should be in championship races there'd be only 5 or 6 runners entered in the entire field. Depending on where they're from, runners can get bonuses for making national teams, making semis, finals, medalling. There are all kinds of reasons to compete other than medalling.

I really didn’t realized she had run so fast recently.

Her World Gold was in 2011.

I take back any joking about her.

It’s hard to be at an elite level for ten years but some can do it.

Star wrote:

I really didn’t realized she had run so fast recently.

Her World Gold was in 2011.

I take back any joking about her.

It’s hard to be at an elite level for ten years but some can do it.

This is so rare on LetsRun. Thank you.