Amber Simpson has established herself as one of the top collegiate hammer throwers in the United States, making history for the University of Illinois and previously excelling at the University of Memphis. Her career is marked by record-breaking performances, All-American honors, and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of her event.
Amber Simpson is the daughter of Gareth and Keely Simpson. She was inspired by her parents’ support and chose to pursue higher education and athletics in the U.S. for both academic and athletic development. In high school, she threw a personal best of 56.96 meters (186-10½), which set the stage for her collegiate career1.
At Memphis, Simpson quickly became one of the program’s top throwers:
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: Finished second at the 2023 American Indoor Track and Field Championships with a mark of 21.06 meters (69-1).
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: Achieved a personal-best of 68.13 meters (223-6) at the Memphis Tiger Invitational.
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: Placed fifth in the hammer throw at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
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: Consistently earned American Conference Academic Honors and was on the Dean’s List every year41.
Transferring to Illinois, Simpson reached new heights:
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: Became the first Illinois woman to earn All-American honors in the hammer throw, finishing eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a throw of 67.73 meters (222-2).
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: Qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the hammer throw and the weight throw.
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: Set Illinois school records in both the hammer throw (70.21 meters/230-4 at the Gary Wieneke Memorial) and the weight throw (22.01 meters/72-2½ at the Meyo Invitational).
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: Threw a Big Ten and school record in the hammer, placed third at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, and was a consistent top performer in conference competition.
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: Placed fifth at the NCAA West Preliminaries to qualify for Nationals1.
Amber Simpson chose Illinois for its strong academic reputation and the opportunity to work with coach JC Lambert and the Illini track team. She is pursuing a degree in business management and is recognized for her academic achievements as well as her athletic ones. Simpson credits her parents as her inspiration and support system throughout her athletic journey1.
Amber Simpson’s career is defined by:
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: First Illinois woman to become an All-American in the hammer throw.
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: Illinois and Big Ten record holder in both the hammer and weight throws.
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: Commonwealth Games finalist and a consistent NCAA and conference contender.
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: Maintained top academic standing while competing at the highest collegiate level.
Simpson’s combination of athletic prowess, academic dedication, and leadership has made her a standout figure in U.S. collegiate track and field, particularly in the throwing events14.
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2024 NCAA All-American (Hammer Throw)
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Illinois and Big Ten record holder (Hammer and Weight Throw)
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NCAA Championships qualifier (Hammer and Weight Throw)
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2022 Commonwealth Games finalist
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Multiple conference medals and academic honors
Amber Simpson continues to set new standards for collegiate throwers and serves as a role model for student-athletes balancing academic and athletic excellence
Go Amber!
