Evan Jager runs 8:26.14, wins steeple, 64 last lap, gets Olympic B standard

I thought these Jager threads were people making very optimistic predictions. That would be an amazing SEASON debut, let alone event debut. Way to go, Jager.

is the promise ring dead? wrote:

1st head-to-head matchup, you make it sound like Huling has lost to Jager on multiple occasions.

Every single one that Jager has run...

Keep this in mind to that this is Huling's first steeple race of the year

First steeple race of the year for Jager also. Even for an inside-curve steeple 64 is pretty good, he must of absolutely dusted Huling the last 400-500 meters.

Only 5 Americans ran faster last year. Based on seeing the race, I would guess that Jager could currently break 8:20 in the right race. Of course, he'd have to stay out of trouble, but he surely has more in him.

That's how things used to be and are now. But hopefully things are starting to change and the steeple can become a top tier event for Americans again just like the 1500m-10k are.

Jager also took down Marc Davis' meet record... stood since 1993, and I'd say Davis was a pretty damn good steepler.

stridez835 wrote:

Huling has run more sub-8:15 steeples in his career than Jager has run races of any kind in the last 12 months. When Jager runs under 8:10, people can talk.

Dan Huling has only run sub 8:15 TWICE. He has run sub 8:25 six times in his career, and only ran 8:25.95 last year...all of two tenths faster than Jager this year....in his first ever steeple.

That said I cant say he should be THE favorite, as Billy Nelson had a breakout year last year, Huling has been consistently around 8:20 for the past several years, along with Ben Bruce...and Alcorn, Olinger and Slattery are all likely to be able to get into the mid 8:20s as well.

The goal for the US distance team is to get at least one or two runners in the finals in every event. IF our 1500 squad stays healthy we could see the US entering 3 finalist in this event.

Before you get a medal you obviously have to get to the finals. I don't why so many US distance are celebrated by making only the semi-finals. IF you goal was to get a medal then not getting past the semis has to been seen as an abject failure

I watched the video of the race. He has a smooth form over the hurdles. Not bad considering he is a newcomer to the event.

More talented US runners should do this event. I think it's the hardest event on the track but at the same time it's the easiest to medal in because it is a SKILLED event. No one is going to drop a 52 on you in the last lap - like in other track races. No one is going to drop a sub 4 mile on you en route. 8:0x times are manageable IF you have good strength and perfect form.

If you think about it US has the best short distance hurdlers in the world. 100m, 400m. We also have a ton of 7:5x 3k guys. We need to find the missing link between the two and attack the event.

Azaleas wrote:

stridez835 wrote:

Huling has run more sub-8:15 steeples in his career than Jager has run races of any kind in the last 12 months. When Jager runs under 8:10, people can talk.

I think people are allowed to talk about a guy who runs 8:26 in his first ever steeple.

You guys act like he hasnt ever done the steeple in practice. THAT would make this more impressive. It's almost as bad as when people got excited over Webb's 10k "debut". The guy had been running 10k for years.

This time is not a stand out. Seems like what you would expect from Jager's 5k and mile ability. Just seems like a solid race. A neutral performance.

Just a number wrote:

You guys act like he hasnt ever done the steeple in practice. THAT would make this more impressive. It's almost as bad as when people got excited over Webb's 10k "debut". The guy had been running 10k for years.

This time is not a stand out. Seems like what you would expect from Jager's 5k and mile ability. Just seems like a solid race. A neutral performance.

Keep trolling, bro

I thought the most impressive thing was his ability to lead with either leg while hurdling. You don't see too many people look that comfortable leading with either leg.

He has a point. We don't know how many time trials Jager did in practice leading up to this. There is a big difference between running some 400s or 1000s over hurdles in practice going into your first steeple, versus running a 2k over barriers with water jumps in practice before your first race.

Still an amazing debut.

is the promise ring dead? wrote:

1st head-to-head matchup, you make it sound like Huling has lost to Jager on multiple occassions. You can't take away the fact that Huling has gone 8:13. Keep this in mind to that this is Huling's first steeple race of the year so he's got awhile before the olympic trials/

Talking about Jager...wow..he would be an idiot if he focused on another event besides the steeple. Real question is this: Was this the fastest debut time for an American in the steeple?

I am pretty sure its the fastest debut, most the top U.S. guys ran their first steeple in college and they usually didn't run it agressively like Jager did. Also, most of the guys did not have Jager's flat credentials.

You guys better check your data, Jager ran the steeple several times in summer races in high school.

Jager won't be doing this event long term, I don't think. I'm sure he just sees the event as his best possibility for the Olympics this year, as he has little to no chance in the 1500 or 5000 after two years off due to injury. I'm sure he has his long term goals aimed at the 5000 and, later on, the 10000.

Truth Sayer wrote:

I think it's the hardest event on the track but at the same time it's the easiest to medal in because it is a SKILLED event.

If you think about it US has the best short distance hurdlers in the world. 100m, 400m. We also have a ton of 7:5x 3k guys. We need to find the missing link between the two and attack the event.

If there was no such thing as kenya or kenyan runners, it might be easy to medal in. It's just as hard to medal at the olympics in steeple as any other event, maybe harder being the kenyans usually make the pace fast and don't give slower runners a chance to sit around and kick for a medal. (ie centro in the 1500)

steeple times should be closer to 2 mile times. running a 7:5x open 3k doesn't translate to a 8:0x steeple.

This simply helps prove the fact that the steeple is a weak event...sorry but it is true. Jager was smart to jump in the event as his Olympic hopes just sky rocketed. There was little hope of his beating Rupp, Ritz and others. A name no one has has mentioned is Josh McAdams who has consistently won US titles and qualified. I don't know if he will toe the line but he is always a factor.

Just watched the race.

Jager is beautiful over the barriers. He never deviates from his normal cadence and rhythm. He's already better than Huling in that respect. Halfway through the race Huling let the pace lag and Jager sat on him for about 800 meters before taking off. Had the race been more even or Jager been more confident (which I'm sure he will be in future races), I think he would have been close to 8:22. Awesome debut and one of the first American steeplers in a while who can realistically think about approaching Lincoln's record.

Prediction for trials Huling Jager and Josh McAdams.

Everyone always leave out McAdams, he gets zero attention but he has a great record for coming through when it counts.