Evan Jager Breaks American Steeplechase Record!

Felt like this needed it's own post for now. Jager finished 3rd in 8:06.81, behind Conselus Kipruto (World Junior Champ) and Paul Koech. Absolutely incredible. Broke the old AR by nearly 2 seconds, and this is just his 5th or 6th steeple race. At the Diamond League Monaco Meeting Herculis.

Let's put this in perspective:

In just his 5th attempt at the distance, he sets an American Record. He is now the fastest American to ever run this event. He has amazing potential, and I predict that he will break 8 minutes. Watching him run was a thing of beauty; you look at him and then look at the Kenyans, and he's as fluid as they are. He's so strong, and his hurdle technique is better than theirs. He just lacks their finishing speed, but I believe he'll develop that. He does, after all, have a very fast mile to his credit. And his strength comes from a 13:22 5000m that he's got to his name.

Obviously he's not the fastest miler, or fastest 5000m runner, but he's got amazing range and is very versatile.

I, for one, am just excited to see what he's going to do in a few weeks. Could this be a Great White Hope?

Olympic Trials: Men's Steeplechase

Evan Jager, Donn Cabral, Kyle Alcorn Heading to London!

The pace was quick early, evidenced by the strung out field. With 2 laps to go, Dan Huling and Evan Jager had a small gap on the field, which included Donn Cabral in 4th. The top 4 were clearly racing at this point and Jager gapped the others with 300m to go. Cabral moved into second while Huling faded into 4th. Jager blew everyone away, smiling in the final meters, with a 3 second personal best as Cabral finished 2nd, and Kyle Alcorn took the final spot to London.Huling faded to 7th. This was just Jager's 4th steeplechase race ever.

Unfortunately for America, they'll need to run about 15 seconds faster to even be competitive in London. The good news: the fastest steepler in the world, Paul Koech, finished 7th in the Kenyan Trials and will likely not compete at the Olympics. He is one of a few Kenyans who competes poorly at altitude, which of course is where their trials are held.

"My legs were toast" - Kyle Alcorn

Results (usatf.org)

1 Evan Jager Nike / Oregon TC Elite 8:17.40

2 Donald Cabral Princeton 8:19.81

3 Kyle Alcorn Nike 8:22.17

4 Donald Cowart Ragged Mountain Racing 8:27.49
5 Benjamin Bruce adidas/McMillan Elite 8:29.61
6 Max King Central Oregon Running Klub 8:30.54
7 Daniel Huling Reebok 8:30.76
8 William Nelson New Balance 8:32.21
9 Cory Leslie Ohio State 8:33.94
10 Augustus Maiyo Unattached 8:35.61
11 Brian Olinger Reebok 8:37.93
12 Joshua McAdams New Balance 8:41.10
13 Craig Forys Michigan 8:46.81
14 David Adams Team Nebraska 8:48.83

Olympic Trials: Steeplechase Semifinals

Women's Steeplechase:

Heat 1: Emma Coburn is just faster than everyone else right now. She cruised to the win in 9:43, 3 seconds ahead of 2nd place, Shaylaa Kipp. Delilah DiCrescenzo of Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" fame was fast enough to move on as well.

Heat 2: Bridget Frank won just ahead of Sara Hall. Ashley Higginson, who runs for Saucony and of course represents NJ/NY Track Club (and Monmouth County!) was 3rd and moves onto the finals.

Qualifiers

1 Emma Coburn Colorado 9:43.19
2 Bridget Franek Nike / Oregon TC Elite 9:44.05
3 Sara Hall Asics 9:44.55
4 Ashley Higginson Saucony 9:45.21
5 Shalaya Kipp Colorado 9:46.17
6 Mason Cathey Saucony 9:47.32
7 Stephanie Garcia New Balance 9:48.17
8 Carrie Dimoff Bowerman Athletic Club 9:49.03
 9 Delilah DiCrescenzo Puma / New Jersey New York T C 9:49.15
10 Rebecca Wade Rice University 9:50.66
11 Lisa Aguilera Nike 9:51.02
12 Jamie Cheever Oiselle / Team USA Minnesota 9:51.42
13 Sarah Pease Unattached 9:52.43
14 Rebeka Stowe Kansas 9:53.67

Men's Steeplechase:

Heat 1: The top 5 were separated by just half a second, as NCAA Champ Donn Cabral of Princeton finished just behind Evan Jager. 3rd went to Craig Forys of Michigan (and also a NJ native).

Heat 2: Ever-so-slightly faster than heat 1, but packed almost as tight as the top 5 finishers were within a second of each other. Dan Huling, who ran with Brian Godsey at Miami (of Ohio), won the heat ahead of Ben Bruce and Kyle Alcorn.

Steve Slattery, a former NJ Meet of Champs winner, was a non-qualifier.

Qualifiers

1 Daniel Huling Reebok 8:29.00
2 Benjamin Bruce adidas/McMillan Elite 8:29.11
 3 Kyle Alcorn Nike 8:29.27
4 Augustus Maiyo Unattached 8:29.29
5 Brian Olinger Reebok 8:30.08
6 Evan Jager Nike / Oregon TC Elite 8:30.60
7 Donald Cabral Princeton 8:30.64
8 Craig Forys Unattached 8:30.85
9 Cory Leslie Ohio State 8:31.08
10 Joshua McAdams New Balance 8:31.15
11 Donald Cowart Ragged Mountain Racing 8:31.51
12 David Adams Team Nebraska 8:32.17
13 Max King Central Oregon Running Klub 8:33.43
14 William Nelson New Balance 8:35.22