Published July 6, 2015 12:00AM
Jager Breaks American Record in Steeplechase
Now holds seven fastest U.S. times
Jairus Kipchoge Birech and Evan Jager during the Men's 3000m Steeplechase race at the IAAF Diamond League Areva Athletics meeting on July 4. (Photo: Zabulon Laurent/Sipa USA/AP)
American Evan Jager, a runner based in Portland, Oregon, with the Bowerman Track Club, broke the national record for the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday. His time of 8:00.45 was set at the Paris Diamond League, where he finished second to Kenyan Jairus Birech, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAFF).
“I just couldn’t believe how fast I was running,” Jager told the IAAF. “I saw the clock said 7:41 with about 100 meters to go, and I thought, ‘I’m going to run an amazing time here.’”
Since transitioning to the event in 2012, the 26-year-old Illinois native has set and reset the American record in three of the past four years. He holds the seven fastest times for Americans and holds the second-fastest time in the world. In June, he ran 3:32.97 for 1,500 meters, becoming the 13th-fastest American ever for that distance.
