Evan Jager has rediculous talent...why didn't he stick with the 5k??

Jager probably wouldn't have made the 5k team this year. If he did, he certainly wouldn't have been close to even thinking about a medal. In the steeple his talent is unknown to everyone, more importantly it's unknown to himself. He doesn't have this mental barrier of knowing exactly what he's capable of because he hasn't truly been tested in the steeple. That race at the Trials looked like he was jogging. So instead of sitting in the chase pack in the 5k and doing the same old thing, he can be up there mixing it up with the leaders because he doesn't know whether or not he's that good. If he stays smooth, covers enough moves, and someone falls he might be able to sneak away with a medal. That's something that would just be out of the question in the 5k.

American men are now serious threats to medal in every distance event on the track. When was the last time you could say that?

Jager does have ridiculous talent. He has a beautiful stride and looks effortless over the barriers and between. He almost looked to toy with the field yesterday in the championship race running a 3 second PB. He looked like he had SO much left. I cannot wait until this guy attempts a steeple against the world's best. I'd like to see him attempt one at a Golden League meet (if there is one) before the Olympics so he knows what 8:05-8:10 pace feels like in a crowd of people. I honestly think we are watching our next US Record holder in the Steeple...whenever he gets in a fast race and tries to go for it. And I honestly think it can happen this season.

Simple reason is that right now bumbi > jager at 5k. Bumbi has run 13:16 two years in a row, whereas jager has a 13:22 pr and is coming off an injury. Jager may have more upside but this was not the year for him to go for the 5k team.

I can't imagine how Jager could have done any better than Bumbalough in the 5 last night. I think the better question would be to ask why more 1,500 and 5,000 guys haven't switched to the steeple yet. But that being said, places 2-4 in the steeple were faster than in '08, if my memory is correct.

ridiculous not rediculous

I think it is great that an athlete who is talented enough to compete in other distances chose the steeple. He is clearly a born steepler and it sets a great precedent that the steeple is not a second class event. Hopefully more people will take the steeple seriously and we will see some good competition in it. Imagine Lagat and Lomong tearing it up in the steeple. It would be a lot of fun to watch and I would not be surprised if that was those two's best event.

Quenton Cassidamius wrote: I would not be surprised if that was those two's best event.

I would be very surprised.

The steeplechase isn't for everyone. Jager is a rarity. He is "The Natural". The best American steeplechase talent I've ever scene.

Yep. I think he'll scare sub-8:10 this year in the right race. He's probably there already.

Why not run the 5000, that's where all the shorties are

Because he'll never approach 12:37 or even 12:45, but he could approach 8:00 in the steeple. He could medal.

malmo wrote:

The steeplechase isn't for everyone. Jager is a rarity. He is "The Natural". The best American steeplechase talent I've ever scene.

That is a hell of an endorsement right there.

malmo, what do you think Jager's ceiling is? Based on what you've seen of him this season and in this OT, how much more do you think he had in the tank in that final? In his flotrack interview, he guessed 5 seconds. To my naive eyes, it looked like even more. It just looked so easy for him. But then, maybe he just always looks that smooth and easy.

Sagarin wrote:

Why would Jager run the 5,000? He'll likely wind up the American record holder in the steeple when it's all said and done. He can still run a 5,000, but he's a natural at the steeple.

Yes, plus isn't the OP's question one that's usually asked about a guy or gal that has just done badly at an event? Come on, the guy just won the OT steeple. I doubt that he's asking himself, "Gee, why didn't I stick with the 5000?"

The Stache wrote:

Jager does have ridiculous talent. He has a beautiful stride and looks effortless over the barriers and between. He almost looked to toy with the field yesterday in the championship race running a 3 second PB. He looked like he had SO much left. I cannot wait until this guy attempts a steeple against the world's best. I'd like to see him attempt one at a Golden League meet (if there is one) before the Olympics so he knows what 8:05-8:10 pace feels like in a crowd of people. I honestly think we are watching our next US Record holder in the Steeple...whenever he gets in a fast race and tries to go for it. And I honestly think it can happen this season.

he talked post-race about doing monaco

formulaic wrote:

How does one get this shirt:

http://www.letsrun.com/2012/images/jagerhomeboy2.jpg

If you don't have one of these right now you probably never will.

Sorry

This was an original many years ago....not to be re-released

The amount of mileage is largely unimportant its about how your body responds to the work and how quality the work is.

Coaches and athletes with attitudes like that of the OP are holding the steeplechase back in this country. If most of the people who run the steeple are second-rate talent, how will our country ever be good at steeple?

Simons15 wrote:

This guy is super good. Idk why he didn't stick with the 5k longer, I mean obviously the steeple is much weaker and therefore guarantees him a spot in the Olympics, but does anyone else think this guy could challenge the PR's of the top american 5k runners?? Lagat 12:53, Solinsky 12:55, Ritz 12:56 and Rupp and Teg 12:58?? Personally I have always thought he was way more talented than Teg. Seems like a Solinsky type dude...naturally talented as fvck, the only difference is he hasn't had his breakout race yet. Lets just hope he dosen't end up like present day Sol, injured.

malmo wrote:

The steeplechase isn't for everyone. Jager is a rarity. He is "The Natural". The best American steeplechase talent I've ever scene.

I don't know how many on this thread have attempted the steeplechase, but based on running it once (and very badly) many years ago, I think it's a bit facile to say that it's just like other distance events. That's the implication I get when I read commentary here - if you have talent at 5K, just hop into the steeple and you will place higher in competitions. Those who noted Jager's unique talent for the event after Mt. Sac were making astute observations.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

Koeach wrote:

why didn't he stick with the 5k??

way easier to be a top steeple guy and earn good money than 5K...

Does anybody (American) in the steeple earn good money?

I assume Jager has incentives in his contract that apply to winning a national championship, going to the Olympics, etc., and they probably apply regardless of the event. So anyway, Jager is probably earning good money now.

Ok, maybe I worded that a tad bit wrong. I meant to say something more along the lines of why hasn't he run a 5k this year?? I think he's in great shape right now and certainly could have challenged Lomong for that 3rd spot in the 5k...I agree he is a magnificent steepler, already one of the best the US has ever seen, but I still think he has massive potential in the 5k that has yet to be reached. I'm talking like 12:55 talent, which would be very relevant on the world scene. I understand his whole focus this season has been the steeple, but one 5k wouldn't hurt the dude at all. He's a professional distance runner. I'd love to see him hop in a fast 5k after the Olympics!!