Elle Purrier Chooses 1500

Simpson for the win unless Brenda trips her up. Lol.

Mu will make the team running 3:59.

Can't believe that brojo/flotrack speculation has infiltrated even the boards.

JENNY SIMPSON is a 1500 runner! She has placed:

19 - 2nd USAs, 8th Worlds

18 - 2nd USAs

17 - 1st USAs, 2nd Worlds

16 - 1st USOT, 3rd Olympics

15 - 1st USAs, tripped at Worlds

14 - 1st USAs, DL Champ

12 - 3rd USOT, semis Olympics

11 - 2nd USAs, 1st Worlds

Simpson was an excellent steepler before the 2010s, sure, but she just had a decade of American middle-distance running that only Centro's consistency/championship performances can compare to.

Why would she jump ship from her flagship event before the Olympics?

There are three people competing for three spots - Houlihan, Purrier, Simpson. Easy as that.

In fact, after '14-'16, Simpson's '19 SB was the fourth best of her career... after rounds and the longest season ever!

2019 3:58.42 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha (QAT) 05 OCT 2019

2018 3:59.37 Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) 26 MAY 2018

2017 4:00.70 Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles (BEL) 01 SEP 2017

2016 3:58.19 Paris (FRA) 27 AUG 2016

2015 3:57.30 Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) 17 JUL 2015

2014 3:57.22 Paris (FRA) 05 JUL 2014

2013 4:00.48 Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) 19 JUL 2013

2012 4:04.07 Rovereto (ITA) 04 SEP 2012

2011 4:03.54 Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) 22 JUL 2011

2010 4:03.63 Icahn Stadium (Fordham), New York, NY (USA) 12 JUN 2010

2009 3:59.90 Eugene, OR (USA) 07 JUN 2009

@FLOTRACK @LRC @anyone who doesn't have Simpson top3

All I'm saying is after the Women's 1500 at USOTs... YOUR APOLOGY NEEDS TO BE AS LOUD AS THE DISRESPECT WAS!

Tired of this what have you done for me lately content

get it faster wrote:

There are three people competing for three spots - Houlihan, Purrier, Simpson. Easy as that.

if we aren't counting out Simpson then don't count out rowbury if she chooses to run this. Her PR is still Faster than Simpsons

I would say after Houlihan and then Purrier the big 3 is Simpson, Rowbury and Sinclaire Johnson

I like this move. I know Jon Gault has said on the Podcast the 5,000 is the better bet, but I'm actually not really so sure about that. Schweizer on form is better at 5,000. There are a lot of potential surprises in the 5,000 with Schneider, Bukowski, Simpson (if she runs it), Infeld, Dani Jones, Cranny et al. Purrier might be waaay better than her PB, but if she's a 14:45-50 runner, that doesn't really separate her much from that group.

In the 1500, that 4:16 mile / 3:56 ability makes her a cut above all but Houlihan and an aging Simpson. I like Sinclaire Johnson, Osika, Hiltz, Grace et al. but that whole group is more in the 4:00-4:02 range in perfect races until we see more.

Does anyone know what Kate Grace plans to run at the Trials? I had originally thought moving back down to the 800 might be a better and less crowded field for her, but that was before Athing Mu came along...

Grace mentioned on instagram the other day that the Bosshard training group had done some time trialing, I am curious to see where she lands! Rooting for her either way!

Also, in 2013 she ran 5K in the USAs (1st place) because she had the auto 1500 qualifier and placed 2nd at Worlds. So 9 straight times she has qualified for WC or Olympics in the 1500 and the only time she didn't make the final was in 2012, when she was coming off an injury.

And she made the team in the steeple in 2008 and 2009 so 11 straight years of making a WC or Olympic team. But I agree she will run the 1500 and that is her best shot in Tokyo if she makes the team. There is probably no one with more experience in championship racing so I would be surprised if she wasn't in the mix at USAs, especially if the race is more tactical.

she even made the 2007 world team for the steeple!

So thats 07/09/11/13/15/17/19, seven straight worlds teams, and three olympic games in between

remarkable

The 5k used to be the easy route to a world champs or Oly, but a lot of those ladies without a kick or pure speed are moving up to it.

Elle is a lock unless someone trips her. Never count out Jenny. That said, usually there is one in every event who surprises except in the steeple.

jabouko wrote:

she even made the 2007 world team for the steeple!

So thats 07/09/11/13/15/17/19, seven straight worlds teams, and three olympic games in between

remarkable

You are correct, I got the count wrong. But yes, a remarkable career.

westsouthrunner wrote:

if we aren't counting out Simpson then don't count out rowbury if she chooses to run this. Her PR is still Faster than Simpsons

Dumb argument. Who cares what their PRs are from 6+ years ago. Rowbury is older, had a baby, and hasn't shown that she's anywhere near her pre-baby form. If she's able to make the top 3, more power to her and what a comeback that would be, but she hasn't done anything yet to indicate she's near the top -- if she even runs the 1500 in the first place.

Predictor Person wrote:

Simpson for the win unless Brenda trips her up. Lol.

Sinclaire Johnson!

Remember that name.

Rowbury ran 4:02.5 and 14:45 last summer in real races, not time trials. I would not count her out at the trials in either event depending on what she chooses to do. Certainly in the 5000 there are not three US athletes clearly faster at the end of 2020.

Didn’t she run steeple in college?

Not for the olympics or OT, but I feel like she could easily have the AR in the steeple and could be a fun one off race. I think she has proven she can beat Coburn over flat. With her background, I bet she could over barriers as well. Food for thought.

Simpson is a big question mark. No 1500 races since the World Championships. It would likely be easier to make the team at 5,000, but Simpson has not really raced the distance seriously.

Don't read into that too much. Think about it:

2019 - longest year of her career at older age, ran strong SB at years end 3:58 in Doha

if no pandemic, I would have expected a light winter schedule and a late opener before the Trials.

With the pandemic, there's no reason we shouldn't see the same. Why open up early when you know your body well? Better to focus, knowing you have the standard, and get ready for the rounds at the Olympic Trials.