Jenny Simpson
United States

Jenny Simpson is a renowned American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 meters. She is a former World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist. Jenny has consistently performed at the highest levels in track and field, making her one of the most successful and recognizable figures in her discipline.
Olympic Medals
World Championship Medals
Personal Bests
Marathon
2:31:54
11/3/2024
Marathon
2:31:39
4/15/2024
Half Marathon
1:10:35
1/15/2023
10 Miles Road
52:16
9/12/2021
Mile Road
4:16.1h
9/8/2019
Major Championships
The XXXI Olympic Games - 1500 Metres
4:10.53
The XXIX Olympic Games - 3000 Metres Steeplechase
9:22.26
IAAF World Championships - 1500 Metres
4:05.40
IAAF World Championships in Athletics - 1500 Metres
4:02.76
IAAF World Championships - 3000 Metres Steeplechase
9:12.50
Sponsors
Gear
Upcoming Events
Recent Mentions

“I also learned that I just love working with athletes who truly have that passion about seeing how good they can be. The outcome isn't as important to me as I thought. It's just, ‘Let's go see how good we can be and see where that lands us...’ Stepping away from college and taking this really windy journey to where I am now, I've been able to work with all different levels of athletes and it's been equally rewarding to those who run their first mile without stopping all the way to the world stage. It's been a non-conventional path, but I've been loving it.”
My guest for today’s episode is someone who’s seen—and shaped—American middle-distance running from just about every angle. Juli Benson was a 1996 Olympian in the 1500 meters, a world-class competitor in her own right, and now she’s one of the most respected coaches in the sport.
Over the past two decades, Juli’s coaching journey has taken her from college programs like Georgetown, Air Force, and Penn to working with World Champions, Olympians, and emerging pros. She coached Jenny Simpson to her gold medal at the 2011 World Championships. She guided Kevin Sullivan back to the global stage. And today, she’s the coach behind Nikki Hiltz, helping them chase a 2028 Olympic dream of their own.
In this episode, we get into it all:
– What makes Nikki tick and how their partnership is evolving
– The differences between coaching NCAA athletes vs. pros
– How Juli learned to balance intensity with recovery—the hard way
– Her reflections on being a woman in the coaching world before there were many to look up to
– And what it’s like now to see coaches like Shalane Flanagan, Diljeet Taylor, and Laurie Henes rise to national prominence
We also talk about Juli’s time at Air Force, the unique challenges of coaching across every level of the sport, and what it’s meant to mentor everyone from Olympic finalists to first-time runners.
This is a conversation about resilience, evolution, and quiet excellence—and it’s one of my favorite coaching deep-dives we’ve done yet.
Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Juli Benson | julibensontraining.com
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Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack

The Getting Chicked New Year’s special is here! In our last episode of 2024, Karen, Rachel, and Megan reflect on their favorite moments from the past year and chat about their biggest running goals for 2025. Karen and Rachel also share their hopes for the Boston Marathon and Megan starts to think about her plans for post-partum racing. The Chicks also share some of their boldest predictions for the upcoming year, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen venturing into trail racing, Jenny Simpson writing a book, a rise in AI-based coaching, and more.
Time stamps:
2024 Reflections:
00:40 - Karen’s top moments
4:06 - Megan’s top moments
5:43 - Rachel’s top moments
12:01 - 2025 resolutions + goals
14:40 - Karen’s running goals
18:10 - Rachel’s running goals
26:10 - Marathon fueling revolution
31:02 - Megan’s running goals
2025 Predictions (35:27):
36:28 - Clayton Young or Conner Mantz will medal at Worlds
37:22 - Women’s American marathon record will fall
43:54 - Jakob Ingebrigtsen ventures into trail racing
44:59 - More AI-based coaching
47:02 - Gabby Thomas races a mile
48:26 - Taylor Swift runs a marathon
50:29 - Shelby Houlihan won’t qualify for the World Champs
52:36 - Marathon OTQ lowers to 2:35 for women
55:24 - The start of a distance running reality show
56:18 - Jenny Simpson writes a book
58:00 - Parker Valby places top 5 at the World Champs
1:01:25 - Getting Chicked goes global
1:04:22 - Rachel in the lab: Is Boston or NYC faster?
YOUR HOSTS
– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram
– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X
– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram
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All-time U.S. women's distance great Jenny Simpson joined The FloTrack Podcast about a month removed from the end of her professional running career at the NYC Marathon, reflecting on her storied career and favorite moments. Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack


Following her retirement from professional running after the NYC Marathon, we pay tribute to some of the highlights of Jenny Simpson's legendary running career, which included an Olympic bronze medal, multiple World Championship medals, 11 U.S. titles and more. Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack

Jenny Simpson Reflects On Career And Upcoming Run USA Journey | The FloTrack Podcast (Ep. 703)
FloTrack
4 months ago
All-time U.S. women's distance great Jenny Simpson joins The FloTrack Podcast about a month removed from the end of her professional running career at the NYC Marathon, reflecting on her storied career as well as looking ahead to the future. Plus, Simpson recounts running The Great World Race just days after the NYC Marathon and gives more insight into her upcoming Run USA journey with her husband, Jason, that is planned for 2025. Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack


“I like having new goals and challenges. The marathon feels like almost a different sport. It's like a second career. It’s breathed a lot of life into my training, just having fresh goals all the time.”
My guest for today's episode is Sara Vaughn, who just delivered a standout performance at the New York City Marathon where she finished as the top American in sixth place overall running 2:26:56 in a year marked by comebacks.
The 38 year old mother of four wasn't about to let a tough season slow her down after battling illness and dropping out of the Chicago Marathon. Just three weeks ago, Sara decided to make a quick pivot and set her sights on New York and it paid off massively.
In this episode, she shares a bit about her untraditional journey to the starting line and how she balances elite competition with her family life. We talk about her remarkable rebound, her plans to keep pushing forward and what drives her as a professional runner and mother.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Sara Vaughn | @smevaughn on Instagram
Time stamps:
3:09 - Initial reflections from the NYC Marathon
5:01 - Having to drop out of the Chicago Marathon, shifting her focus to the NYC Marathon
6:14 - What her goals were for Chicago, how those goals changed for NYC
8:40 - When things started to click for her in training
10:29 - How her training has changed since starting to work with coach Alistair and Amy Cragg
11:52 - What’s kept her in the sports for so long
15:37 - Racing her daughter Kiki in an 800m
21:12 - What her goals were on the day of the NYC Marathon
22:57 - Thoughts when the big move was made at 1st Ave
24:37 - Reflecting on Jenny Simpson’s marathon
27:58 - Hardest part of the race
28:49 - Crowds during the final part of the race
33:46 - Feelings after crossing the finish line
36:16 - Going after the 2025 World Championships team
36:50 - Answering listener questions
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In a fitting theme for the city of Broadway, the 53rd edition of the New York City Marathon was all about breakout stars finally getting their time in the spotlight. Both winners of the men’s and women’s elite races in NYC are frequently recurring characters near the front of major races, but neither had completed a signature performance before today.
Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won their first World Marathon Major titles by defeating fields full of former NYC champs, with Nageeye outkicking 2022 champ Evans Chebet down the homestretch and Chepkirui beating 2023 champ Hellen Obiri at her own game with a late surge through Central Park.
Time stamps:
Women’s race:
2:10 - Breaking down Sheila Chepkirui’s win
5:03 - Hellen Obiri talking a big game + reflecting on her career
13:20 - Kudos to Vivian Cheruiyot for her third place finish
16:10 - Sara Vaughn’s top American performance
19:42 - More top results: Jess McClain, Sharon Lokedi, Kellyn Taylor, Tristan Van Ord, Dakotah Popehn
22:38 - Reflecting on Jenny Simpson’s career
Men’s race:
26:47 - Breaking down Abdi Nageeye’s win
31:24 - Evans Chebet’s performance, 30th career marathon
33:18 - More top results: Albert Korir, Tamirat Tola
35:19 - Conner Mantz and Clayton Young’s races
39:45 - Kudos to CJ Albertson
More thoughts:
44:27 - 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
48:40 - Valencia Half Marathon recap
54:50 - What’s ahead on the CITIUS MAG Podcast
56:18 - Sydney Marathon becoming the newest World Marathon Major
Mentioned in this episode:
Watch: NYC Marathon Watchalong
Read: Parting Thoughts From The 2024 NYC Marathon: Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui Win + More
Listen: Jenny Simpson Reflects on Her Career from High School to 2019, Shares 2020 Plans and Hopes
Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Isaac Wood | @isaacew on Instagram
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WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com
OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com.

The final World Marathon Major of 2024 is almost here! In a banner year for road running, it’s hard to imagine how anything could top the Olympics, a historic Chicago, or even the early thrills of the U.S. Trials, but NYC has assembled a field full of living legends, rising stars, and fascinating narratives primed to end the year on a high note.
Three 2024 Olympic medalists are hitting the five boroughs: Olympic champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia, silver medalist Bashir Abdi of Belgium, and bronze medalist Hellen Obiri of Kenya. Obiri and Tola also happen to be the reigning NYC champions, and Obiri will be trying to win the Boston-New York double for the second straight year. Five other former NYC champions are in the mix (three men and two women), plus a pair of stacked U.S. fields vying to produce top-10 overall finishes… or even higher.
Here’s a compilation of our interviews from the NYC Marathon press conference, including Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Hellen Obiri, Dakotah Popehn, Jenny Simpson, Sharon Lokedi, Evans Chebet and Jess McClain.
Time stamps:
0:05 - Conner Mantz
6:10 - Clayton Young
15:30 - Hellen Obiri
20:17 - Dakotah Popehn
24:29 - Jenny Simpson
34:09 - Sharon Lokedi
40:31 - Evans Chebet
43:35 - Jess McClain
Read: 2024 New York City Marathon Insider Notebook: What The Pros Had To Say Ahead Of Sunday’s Race
Read: Top Storylines To Watch At The 2024 New York City Marathon
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com
OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com.

Jenny Simpson Announces Her Retirement From Professional Running, Announces Plans For 2025
CITIUS MAG
6 months ago
Jenny Simpson Announces Her Retirement From Professional Running, Announces Plans For 2025 From our race preview: "Others who would be a slightly longer shot for top American but are fun to consider nevertheless include 41-year-old Des Linden and four-time 1500m medalist Jenny Simpson, who has dipped her toes into the marathoning world but hasn’t quite yet mastered the event, dropping out of Trials and finishing 16th in Boston. Both women have proven themselves to be gritty racers, and if cheering alone can move you up a few places, their large fan bases will be a huge asset." Read more here: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/p/new-york-city-marathon-2024-preview CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with HOKA for our coverage of the 2024 New York City Marathon. Find all the details and list of events throughout the weekend here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/citius-mag-cafe-hoka-nyc-marathon-2024-weekend-events FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com For other inquiries, contact us: chris@citiusmag.com Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment, and subscribe! Help us continue to bring track and field to your home and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg/join


Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Eric Jenkins will preview all of the top athletes and storylines to watch for the men's and women's elite races at the 2024 Boston Marathon. Evans Chebet, Hellen Obiri, Emma Bates, Sharon Lokedi, Zouhair Talbi, Gabriel Geay, Des Linden, CJ Albertson, Jenny Simpson, Sara Hall are among the notable stars competing at the historic race. We will also share our picks at the end of the show. HOW TO WATCH THE RACE ON TV: All the Marathon Monday action gets underway on April 15th with pro races beginning at 9 a.m. The professional men’s field starts at 9:37 am E.T. and the pro women at 9:47 am E.T. Locally, the race will be viewable live on TV or online at WCVB-5. If you’re not in Massachusetts, the race will be shown live on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 8:30 am E.T. READ OUR PREVIEW: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/p/2024-boston-marathon-preview-evans-chebet-hellen-obiri

“This is a different moment in my career compared to any other one in the past because I’ve suffered a major disappointment. It’s up for debate if I should’ve taken a break after the Trials and reset but, man, I didn’t feel like I could stop. All of this training is in me and this motivation to show the world the hard work I’ve put in. I didn’t take this journey lightly. I really care about making this transformation from middle distances to the longer stuff. I just really wanted to keep going.”
20 minutes of catching up with Olympic medalist and world champion Jenny Simpson before she takes on the NYC Half on Sunday. It is her first race since unfortunately dropping out of her marathon debut at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando last month.
We chat a bit about her lessons from that race, whether she would’ve done anything differently and how she’s taking that into her next few races. Moments before we did this interview, the BAA announced Jenny has been added to the Boston Marathon field for April 15 – along with Sara Hall, Caroline Rotich, Elkanah Kibet and Sam Chelanga. So we discuss her plans for that race and a wider shot of how she views this chapter of her legendary career.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Jenny Simpson | @trackjenny on Instagram
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