Track & Field Announces Women U.S. Athlete of Year for 2014: Jenny Simpson!

Jenny Simpson, photo by PhotoRun.net

MOUNTAIN VIEW (USA): Jenny Simpson has been named as Track and Field News’ US Women’s Athlete of the Year. The 28 year old played a starring role on the Diamond League circuit in 2014, running a PB of 3:57.22 and winning two races to claim the overall Diamond League 1500m title. Simpson is the first miler to win the accolade since Mary Slaney in 1985. She received 14 of 28 votes for Number 1, achieving 91.8% of a perfect score. Dawn Harper Nelson finished in 2nd position, receiving 12 number 1 votes, while American discus record holder Gia Lewis-Smallwood got 2 number 1 votes. The top 10 are as follows: Jenny Simpson (257), Dawn Harper Nelson (242), Gia Lewis-Smallwood (203), Emma Coburn (178), Allyson Felix (174), Francena McCorory (104), Tori Bowie (80), Ajee’ Wilson (78), Queen Harrison (45) and Molly Huddle (43)

(Editor’s note: RunBlogRun is so happy with the Bible of the Sports’ decision for 2014. Jenny Simpson is not only one of our sport’s most articulate athletes, most competitive athletes and a leading voice for American distance runners.

I was lucky enough to see Jenny’s season, with the exception of two races, one in cross country and the 3,000m at the end of the season. Jenny Simpson won the 2014 U.S. Women Athlete of the Year the old fashioned way; she earned it by racing and competing the best that she could!

Congrats to Jenny Simpson! )

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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