by Larry Eder
I was in the stadium in Daegu, Korea, as Jenny Simpson entered the final straightaway and the field was all there. Suddenly, Jenny Barringer Simpson moved to the front and charged away from the field, opening a few centimeters, then one meter, then two meters. As Hannah England went by the field, and started after Jenny, Simpson kept her cool and expanded her lead.
Afterwards, Jenny told the media that ” I wanted to make sure that I had won, I wanted to make sure that this was not a dream.”
Well, it was not and it is not. Jenny Barringer Simpson is the first women to take gold in the 1,500 meters since 1983 and one Mary Slaney.
A championship middle distance race requires several skill sets for the athlete to be successful. There is a similarity to roller derby racing: the shoving and closeness of the field make for falling and tripping to be part of the race. The tension increases as one gets closer to the finish, especially when the pace has remained moderate. And the ability to focus on your race place, no matter what is happening around you are key to success in the 1,500 meters.
Jenny Simpson used all of those race skills and the wise advise of her coach, Juli Benson, to stay out of trouble and make her move when it made sense for her!
Jenny Simpson is now the 2011 World Championship gold medalist at 1,500 meters!
We asked theshoeaddicts (AJ Felice, videographer, Mike Deering, research/copy, Adam Johnson-Eder, voice over) to give us their view of the new World Champion.
We hope you like their vision of Jenny Barringer Simpson, 2011 World Champion at 1,500 meters!
