RALEIGH — Jenny Simpson was released from Duke University Hospital on June 26, 2026, after recovering from a cardiac arrest. The incident occurred while she was leading a mile pace group at a Sir Walter Miler pop-up event in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Simpson was hospitalized on June 17, 2026, following the event. A Fleet Feet statement indicated that she received immediate lifesaving care, which included both cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). She was transported to UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh before being transferred to Duke University Hospital. According to a Fleet Feet statement, Simpson will continue her recovery in North Carolina with her husband, Jason.

Fleet Feet issued a statement expressing gratitude, saying, "Jenny and her family are deeply grateful to the first responders, the medical teams at UNC Rex Hospital and Duke University Hospital, and everyone who has cared for her over the past nine days." The statement also conveyed her appreciation for community support. "Jenny is sincerely grateful for the countless messages, prayers, encouragement and acts of kindness she has received from friends, colleagues, competitors and runners around the world, and she looks forward to connecting with the community in time."

Simpson, 39, retired from competitive running at the end of the 2024 season. In early 2026, she became Fleet Feet's first chief running officer. Her career included becoming the 1500m world champion in 2011 and winning a bronze medal in the 1500m at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Simpson is from Oviedo, and she noted her early experiences with the sport, stating, "My running start was here in Orlando, and I bought my very first pair of running shoes at Track Shack."