EUGENE, Ore. — Jenny Simpson earned her third trip to the Olympic Games on Sunday afternoon, winning the 1,500-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials.
Simpson ran a brilliant race, finishing in 4:04.74. She came through the first 300 meters in 50.56, which was third and by 700 meters, Simpson was second. About 100 meters later, Simpson made her move to the front, taking the lead from another former Buff, Sara Vaughn. As the field entered the bell lap, Simpson was off, running the final 400 meters in 59.97, and easily defeated the runner-up, Shannon Rowbury, who clocked in at 4:05.39.
“Everybody talks about how making the team is a relief,” Simpson said. “But the hardest thing is you are the one who has to prove it to you. You’re the one who is standing at the starting line, and you’re the one who has to believe ‘I’m 1,500 meters away from another team.’ I’m just so grateful I proved to myself that I could do it.”
Vaughn ended up seventh overall, finishing with a time of 4:10.28, while another former Buff, Sara Sutherland, was ninth (4:10.70).
Jessica Tebo, yet another former Buff competing on Sunday at the trials, came away with an 11th place finish in the 5,000-meter finals, finishing in 15:41.02.
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio run August 5-21.
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field – Results
Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
Women’s 5,000-meter final:
Top three make U.S. Team
1. Molly Huddle, Saucony, 15:05.01
2. Shelby Houlihan, Nike Bowerman TC, 15:06.14
3. Kim Conley, New Balance, 15:10.62
11. Jessica Tebo, Nike, 15:41.02
Women’s 1,500-meter final:
Top three make U.S. Team
1. Jenny Simpson, New Balance, 4:04.74
2. Shannon Rowbury, Nike Oregon Project, 4:05.39
3. Brenda Martinez, New Balance, 4:06.16
7. Sara Vaughn, Brooks, 4:10.28
9. Sara Sutherland, Saucony, 4:10.70
