RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Olympic bronze medalist and world champion 1,500-meter runner Jenny Simpson collapsed after suffering a medical episode while pacing a mile group at an event in Raleigh on Tuesday night.
Simpson underwent CPR at the track and an automated external defibrillator was also used before taking her to the hospital. LetsRun.com was the first to report the medical emergency.
The 39-year-old Simpson was taking part in a community track event hosted by Sir Walter Running, with runners of all levels encouraged to attend. The event featured a chance to meet Simpson.
“We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who responded immediately, as well as EMS and the medical professionals who handled the situation with such care, urgency, and professionalism,” the “Sir Walter Running Team” wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
The statement added that “Jenny is receiving excellent medical care, and our thoughts are with her and her family during this time.”
Simpson won the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. She also won the 1,500 at the 2011 world championships, along with silver medals in 2013 and 2017.
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FILE - Jenny Simpson smiles after the finals of the women's 1500-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials June 21, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Every team has played a game in this oversized World Cup filled with big surprises.
The stakes rise quickly as the 48 teams begin playing their second group-stage matches.
Cape Verde, Qatar and Congo have earned points for the first time in the World Cup, raising hope for an improbable run to the knockout round.
Spain, Portugal and Brazil, among the pre-tournament favorites to win it all, need wins to keep up in their groups after opening with draws. Belgium, the Netherlands, Croatia and Switzerland are in the same boat.
On Thursday, hosts Mexico and Canada, along with Switzerland and South Korea, will be among the teams playing for a second time.
— Czech Republic vs. South Africa, noon EDT in Atlanta (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)
— Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 3 p.m. EDT in Inglewood, California (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)
— Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m. EDT in Vancouver, British Columbia (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)
— Mexico vs. South Korea, 9 p.m. EDT in Guadalajara, Mexico (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)
Mexico will look to take control of Group A against South Korea following a thrilling start as World Cup host.
Four years after a major disappointment in Qatar, the Mexicans roared out of the gate with a 2-0 win over South Africa. The dominant victory thrilled a capacity crowd of 80,824 at famed Azteca Stadium and drew 7.1 million viewers in the United States, making it the most-watched opening match for an English-language broadcast.
The next match may be a little tougher.
South Korea opened its 12th World Cup appearance by scoring twice in the second half for a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic.
While Mexico will have to travel 600 miles from Mexico City for its second match, South Korea remained in Guadalajara following its opener.
Mexico also will be without defender Cesar Montes, who received one of three red cards in the match against South Africa.
South Africa will be short-handed for its Group A match against the Czech Republic in Atlanta.
Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane both received red cards against Mexico, which carries an automatic one-game suspension.
Zwane’s suspension was increased to thee games by FIFA on Wednesday, deeming his contact to the face of Mexico's Roberto Alvarado to be serious foul play. South Africa is appealing FIFA's decision.
Canada and Qatar made history in their openers, scoring late goals to earn their first World Cup points. The teams meet on Thursday looking for their first win.
Qatar had a forgettable run in the 2022 World Cup, scoring a single goal while becoming the first host country to lose all three of its matches. The Qataris opened this year’s tournament with a shocker, scoring in stoppage time to pull out a 1-1 draw against Group B favorite Switzerland.
Canada followed a rousing opening ceremony with a slow start against Bosnia-Herzegovina Friday in Toronto. Substitute Cyle Larin turned disappointment into celebration, scoring in the 78th minute to secure a 1-1 draw.
It marked Canada’s first World Cup point after it scored one goal while losing all six games in 1976 in Mexico and four years ago in Qatar.
Canada’s bid for a first win could be hampered by captain Alphonso Davies’ nagging hamstring injury. He didn’t play against Bosnia and has been limited in training from an injury suffered while playing for Bayern Munich on May 6.
Switzerland is trying to bounce back from the shocking tie against 56th-ranked Qatar that created a four-way tie in Group B.
The next chance for the Swiss comes against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which had the opposite reaction to opening with a draw.
At No. 64 in the world, the Bosnians are the lowest-ranked team in the group, yet pulled out a draw against the host country. That came after Bosnia stunned Italy in the final of the European playoffs.
— Christian Pulisic still training separately, increasing concern for the US at the World Cup
— Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal held to a 1-1 draw by Congo at the World Cup
— Cape Verde star goalkeeper Vozinha’s mother gets visa to attend next World Cup match
— FIFA hydration breaks spark backlash and blamed for killing momentum at World Cup
— Iran and Egypt will meet, uncomfortably, in Seattle’s World Cup ‘Pride Match’
— Turkish state broadcaster drops veteran World Cup commentator over Iran-New Zealand mix-up
— Highlights from Day 7 in photos
Harry Kane's two goals against Croatia gives him 10 in his World Cup career, matching Gary Lineker’s England record and five others for seventh all-time. The others with 10: Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta, Peru's Teófilo Cubillas, Poland's Grzegorz Lato and Germans Thomas Müller and Helmut Rahn.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Harry Kane greats fans after the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
South Africa's Sphephelo Sithol, left, and Mexico's Erik Lira battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Qatar's Pedro Miguel, yells as he celebrates after teammate Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi, right scored his sides first goal during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Qatar and Switzerland in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Congo in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Canada's Cyle Larin (9) scores his sides first goal of the game in the second half of the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Bosnia, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky)
