BARRINGER SIGNS WITH FLYNN SPORTS MANAGEMENT
By David Monti
(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Jenny Barringer, who in four years with the University of Colorado won three NCAA and two national steeplechase titles and lowered the American record for that event to 9:12.50, has signed a professional contract with Flynn Sports Management, the Tennessee athlete management firm headed by former miler Ray Flynn.

"We are very excited to have the opportunity to represent Jenny, and look forward to helping her achieve all of her goals in the years ahead," Flynn wrote in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly.  Earlier, in a telephone interview, Flynn said that Barringer had not yet been signed by a shoe company, and that he and his new athlete were still weighing their options.

Barringer, 23, who will graduate with a political science and economics degree on December 18, was the most sought after NCAA runner in recent memory.  Under coach Mark Wetmore, Barringer set NCAA records for 1500m (3:59.90), the indoor mile (4:25.91), indoor 3000m (8:42.03), 5000m (15:01.70), and steeplechase (9:25.54).  She also finished ninth in the 2008 Olympic Games, and fifth at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in the steeplechase.  It was in that world championships race where Barringer ran 9:12.50, which put her #5 on the 2009 world list according to the statistics website Tilastopaja Oy.

In making her decision on a manager, Barringer picked Flynn because of his long-term record and also a meshing of personal values.

"I have a lot of respect for the agency that Ray has built over the years," said Barringer speaking via telephone from Boulder.  "I think he's proven over and over again that he's capable of representing high level athletes.  I think he's a great person and his values match up with my own.  I'm excited to have him on my team."

Barringer, who will marry fiancée Jason Simpson next October, plans to remain in Boulder and will continue to be coached by Wetmore.

"Mark is definitely staying as my coach, and I'm staying here in Boulder for the time being," Barringer explained.

Barringer is coming off of a disappointing performance at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships last month.  She was expected to win that race (she'd been second twice to Sally Kipyego), but collapsed in the fourth kilometer of the 6 km race, and finished 163rd.  Barringer said later that she had allowed the competitive pressure to get to her.

"I just lost my head and didn't feel good and then next thing I knew I was on the ground thinking, 'Is this really happening to me? Is this a race?' I think I was just a little delirious."

Barringer had not made any firm competitive plans for 2010, she said.

PHOTO: Jenny Barringer winning the 2009 NCAA steeplechase title (photo by Mike Scott)