Simpson had shown a great deal of promise more than 3 years ago establishing herself as a world class steeplechaser and a damn fine 1500 meter runner. Last year with her epic college career at Colorado over, she changed coaches, got married and disappeared. Injuries ended her season causing a lot of people to write her off.
A slow start to this season kicked off by a bout with flu created even more doubters. Many wondered why she had abandoned the steeple, the event she set an American Record in back in 2008. Thursday silenced her critics taking America's first 1500 meter gold in 28 years. The only bummer from that race came when another favorite, Morgan Uceny of the United States, took a tumble 550 meters from the finish in a bit of racing bad luck not of her making. Otherwise I think we would have seen two Americans on the podium.
The excitement of Simpson's epic win roused me from bed early this morning so I could watch the women's 5000 live this morning. I was hoping against hope that Lauren Fleshman could steal a medal or at the very least take a top 5 finish. Plus there was Amy Hastings, the Leavenworth High grad who was making her World Championship debut.
The race went about as I expected with a pack of Kenyans and Ethopians ratcheting up the pace with 600 meters to go. Hastings had disappeared from the pack early on but Fleshman was hanging on for dear life. Within 150 meters the pack pulled away from Lauren who fought bravely all the way to the finish to grab a respectable 7th place.
The IAAF needs to look at thinning out the fields. 15 plus runners are way too many to stick out on a track. The grabbing, pushing, shoving and spiking makes for pathetic racing.
Editor's note: I strongly urge you to read Lauren's blog she posted about her experience leading up and running in the finals. It's a fabulous read.
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