Fresh off her bronze medal showing in the 500-meter at the NEC Indoor Championships, Simpkins began the first outdoor season of her collegiate career with two top-three finishes at the VCU Ram Invitational. The rookie sprinter claims both NEC Track Athlete and Rookie of the Week honors for her second-place showing in the 200-meter (25.97) and her third-place finish in the 400-meter (57.92).