News02 Dec 2014


Simpson set to return to Boston

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Jenny Simpson celebrates her victory in the 1500m (© Getty Images)

Jenny Simpson, the most-decorated US woman over 1500m in athletics history, is the first athlete announced for the 2015 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, an IAAF Indoor Permit meeting, on 7 February.

Simpson, 28, is the 2011 world 1500m champion and reigning world silver medallist. The former US steeplechase record-holder returns to Boston as one of the top middle-distance women in the world after winning the 2014 Diamond Race title with a crashing dive across the line for victory at the IAAF Diamond League final in Zurich.

“The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is always a fun chance for me to peek at my own fitness and face some really incredible competition,” said Simpson, who first competed at this meeting in 2005 in the junior invitational mile. “The fields are good, the crowd is loud, and I have a lot of history there. I can't wait to return to Boston again this year.”

Simpson will again run the two-miles. She will, however, be hoping for a better result than last year, when she miscounted laps, unleashing a furious kick one lap early and coming to a near stop at the bell. Had she not erred, she would have almost certainly set a US indoor best for the distance instead of finishing second, in 9:26.19. The US best for the event (9:23.38) was set at this meeting in 2002.

As always, Simpson addressed the situation with poise and good humour. “3200/200=16,” she tweeted soon after the race. “Yes kids, algebra is important to learn for your everyday life. This is a public service announcement.”

Now in its 20th year, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix has played host to seven world indoor records and 11 US records.

Organisers for the IAAF

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