Does Jenny Simpson (Barringer) Really Think She's Back?

Jenny has always been one of my favorite runners to watch and I have never had a problem with her interviews. I guess I am not seeing where some of these negative posts are coming from. I personally think she has a great career ahead of her and will be joining Shalane and Kara as a potential medal threat.

agree with this guy wrote:

I agree with blimmin blincoe again. I loved JBS until I saw that NCAA interview after her meltdown. I still love her but I dont think she is as humble as i thought she was. JBS is a great athlete with a ton of talent and if she were lesser of an athlete than she is now some of her comments would come off as weird or cocky. I still hope she does well for the usa. Her personality is one thing but her running will be judged on the track.

Let us see how you would interview at the moment of greatest personal and athletic stress in your life. It is a point where there is likely to be some defense of one's image of oneself. Working through those situations takes quite a while, not the interval between the event and that interview.

at the time of stress is what determines who a person really is...not the sunny perfect days! I watched a interview with Jordan Hasay after her disappointing finish in the 1500 at Jr. Worlds. The girl was obviously devistated with tears in her eyes and yet she still acknowledged the talent of the Kenyans, and the smartness of the irish girl for running her own race and finishing in third. People are entitled to be their own persons but not at the expense of others. Jenny's comment is fair,after winning both US Championship titles,if she thought she was being unfairly persecuted but i thought the fight is with your feet not your mouth. If people live long enough to see how good you have become in the areas you were persecuted...that's sweet vengence in itself. I know kids that look up to Jenny and they had strange looks on their faces when she made the, "Take that" comment. Jenny didnt swear or curse but those words do not sound like the words of the humble. Its great to be confident but rest assure that cockyness is nor far behind if one doesnt check themselves. Jenny can be whomever she wants!!! If you want to portray a certain image don't be defensive if your words paint another picture!

In "The Week That Was" , we devoted a whole section to Simpson. http://www.letsrun.com/2011/week-0301.php#simpsonOur main point, the bigger news would have been had she not completed the double given the PRs of her competition.http://www.letsrun.com/2011/week-0301.php#simpson

In reference to some of the previous comments...we're looking for elite athletes who can win on the world stage, not for personality characteristics that meet or don't meet someone's ideal.

the verdict wrote: Are you sure you're not a horse?

No, just hung like one.

Wait, Charlie Sheen is banging JBS? WINNING!

Many of you fine people are dickheads. I interviewed Jenny over the phone for a local article before she even went to college and she was unusually composed, gracious AND witty -- even by adult standards. I think that without knowing it, a lot of you gracious douchebags are conditioned to equating a "good interview" of a woman athlete with a chick who comes across as smart but not TOO smart (since women need to be led along to some extent, even the greats), and is confident but not TOO "guy-like" in her recognition of her own abilities, and is serious but not TOO serious (since women like this are wooden bitches). In fact, she reminds me a lot of Fleshman and Flanagan. See the similarities? And the differences between this group (pros and record-setters) and a bunch of glorious dumbasses on a message board whose careers are likely to peak at the Turkey Trot 10K at age 23?

Go Jenny. You, Kara, Shalane and others are exactly why a lot of people follow this sport.

JHF is one of the funniest trolls i've seen on here since the430miler got assassinated. seriously, his work in this thread is simply sublime.

I think this post is the nicest tongue lashing I've ever seen on LRC.

Jenny is a lovely person and a phenomenal athlete. I will always enjoy watching her compete and win!

POD!!! Hear hear!

...not that anything constructive would ever be considered worthwhile on these boards.

Also in the CO wrote:

Jefe in the CO wrote:

I think this post is the nicest tongue lashing I've ever seen on LRC.

POD!!! Hear hear!

...not that anything constructive would ever be considered worthwhile on these boards.

Just wanted to jump on board this train since I, too, am in CO. And, as luck would have it, I used to coach in Florida when JBS was in high school. On the several occasions I had the opportunity to speak with her, Jenny came across as confident and generally of pleasant disposition. I can see how her outspoken confidence can be off-putting to some people, but she was always gracious in victory and friendly to her opponents (and anyone else who wanted to take some of her time to talk to her).

I don't think she's as deferential as many here would seem to prefer when it comes to talking about her own abilities, but I don't think she intends to be condescending or self-aggrandizing. I thought her recent interview after getting waxed by Kipyego (granted, she wasn't as elated as she normally is after a big win, so maybe it would have been different had she won) was refreshingly candid. I mean, she had just lost to one of her biggest rivals, but she was nearly effusive in praising Kipyego while not making excuses. It was apparent that both women greatly respected each other, and they seemed to genuinely like each other as well.

Yes Jenny MF simpson is back she will medal at london in the 1500 or steeple mark my words.

also most of the post ncaa xc interviews were done with Jenny the next day after the race, plenty of time for one to gather their thoughts.

elton jahn wrote:

We hoped she would not be back, not the same as thought.

Took the words out of my mouth.

Weighing in late here, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people are just in love with Jenny, when she is the most egotistical, condescending track athlete I know of. Based on this thread, I'd say she has about 80% of the LR crowd fooled. Over at Flotrack, that percentage is like 99.

It's her fake humility bullshit that gets me. Her post-XC interview was pathetic, just sad to watch. 20 minutes and you didn't once mention the competition that just owned you? Real respectful. Any time she has a disappointment, it's this weird self-aggrandizing routine, where she'll say something to the effect of "You know, I'm just still learning that everyone has off days. I need to realize that even though I'm a sub-4 1500m runner and an Olympian, that I can have bad days too, you know?" Which is then, remarkably, met with dozens of "Oh Jenny! She's so humble and well-spoken" compliments.

Some more post-XC interview gems:

"I got to see women's running, NCAA running from a perspective I haven't seen in a looong time"

"I got to understand that kicking isn't just in a straight line, you have to weave between people... which is harder when you're half unconscious."

Are these the famous jokes and wit that everyone is talking about? To me, they're just ignorant and extraordinarily rude to all of her competitors.

The majority of the elite runners I know think she sucks as too. Somehow, the LR/Flotrack masses can't seem to see her horrible personality through her interviews, despite the fact that nearly every one is lined with the subtext in the same vein as noted above. I'm not an especially bitter person, and in fact, I've never torn any runner down on these boards, except Jenny. But this over-the-top fawning from her fans just makes me sick.

Actually, you ARE an especially bitter person. And I don't believe that the majority of elite runners you know think she sucks.

Ya, OK

Under Ultra wrote:

"Take that for everyone who thought I wouldn't be back."

Does she really think she's back by winning a paltry USATF Mile/3000m double, essentially racing no one, but losing the week prior to Kipyego, who is not a world-threat in any event?

She needs a reality check and needs to race the likes of Flanagan and Huddle.

It is funnier to read this now since Kipyego became a silver medalist, simpson the gold, and her "reality check" competition barely did anything noteworthy in worlds.