University of Wisconsin Communications
RIO DE JANEIRO – Four years ago at the 2012 London Olympics, Evan Jager broke onto the world scene in the steeplechase with a sixth-place finish in just his seventh-ever steeplechase competition.
The former Wisconsin men’s track and field standout made another statement Wednesday, this time at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Jager posted the United States’ best finish in the men’s steeplechase since 1952 with a second-place showing at Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
“It was a lot of years of hard work and daydreaming and dreaming about this moment with all of it coming true,” Jager said. “Being able to truly enjoy the moment and those emotions and experiences. It all happened in five-minute times. I was completely calm, I didn’t know I had a medal wrapped up, basically in my head until I had 100 meters to go and as soon as I got over the last barrier I could enjoy it. That was very fun.”
Coached by former UW men’s cross country coach Jerry Schumacher and former Badger Pascal Dobert, an Olympian in the steeplechase himself in 2000, Jager crossed the line in 8 minutes, 4.51 seconds to earn Team USA’s first medal in the men’s steeplechase since Brian Diemer earned bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In addition, Jager’s placing at the 2016 Summer Olympics was the best by an American since Horace Ashenfelter claimed gold in 1952.
“I know the history of the sport especially in the U.S. and I know how dominant Kenya has been in the last 20 or 30 years,” Jager said. “I do know how big of an achievement it is. I don’t know if it has hit me yet. The happiness has definitely hit me but outside of that I haven’t really thought about anything.”
“Evan ran with passion, courage and belief,” UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. “Over the last couple of years, he consistently believed that he could compete with the very best in the world and today proved that. It’s awesome to see a former Badger and a USA athlete taking on the best in the world, especially the Kenyans who have dominated this event for so many years, and win the medal.”
An All-American at UW during the 2009 season, Jager also ran the second-fastest steeplechase time in Olympic history, trailing only race winner Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya, who finished Wednesday’s race in 8:03.28
Jager is the first former UW track and field athlete to earn a medal since Lloyd LaBeach won bronze in the 100 meters at the 1948 Olympics. The Algonquin, Illinois, native is also the first Badger to earn an Olympic medal in an individual event since Andy Rein earned a silver medal in wrestling at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
The North American record holder in the steeplechase, Jager helped push the pace of the steeplechase early, as he, two-time Olympic gold medalist Ezekiel Kemboi and Kipruto separated themselves from the chase pack.
Jager grabbed the lead with three laps remaining, one he would hold until the bell lap as Kipruto and Kemboi passed him. The former Badger remained in third until there were 100 meters left as Jager outkicked Kemboi to finish second.
Ahmed advances in 5000 meters
Jager wasn’t the only former UW distance standout in action on Wednesday at the Olympic Games, as Mohammed Ahmed finished sixth in his section of the 5000 meters in 13:21.00 to advance to Saturday’s final.
The Canadian record holder in the 5000 meters, Ahmed was the fastest time qualifier between the two sections of the event. The top-five finishers from each heat, along with the next five fastest athletes, advanced from the field of 51 to the final.
“I did what I needed to do, which is to qualify,” Ahmed said. “All that matters is that I’m in the final. I knew with a lap to go at the bell, I just needed to run a 60-second last lap and pass a few people and I would be in, and that’s what I did.”
“It’s great he made it to the final,” Byrne said. “It looked like he made some tactical errors but at the end of that day all that matters is if you make it and you get to do it again. We can’t wait to watch him on Saturday night.”
Placed in the second section of the 5000 meters, Ahmed started the race towards the back of the main pack as approximately 20 runners broke away early from the rest of the field.
With 2000 meters remaining, Ahmed was in 15th place, but slowly started to pick off the field, moving into 10th with 1200 meters left.
The St. Catharines, Ontario, native cracked the top 10 with two laps remaining as the pace picked up tremendously.
The former Badger star soared into sixth heading into the bell lap, where he would ultimately finish.
Ahmed will race on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.
--#Badgers--
The former Wisconsin men’s track and field standout made another statement Wednesday, this time at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Jager posted the United States’ best finish in the men’s steeplechase since 1952 with a second-place showing at Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
“It was a lot of years of hard work and daydreaming and dreaming about this moment with all of it coming true,” Jager said. “Being able to truly enjoy the moment and those emotions and experiences. It all happened in five-minute times. I was completely calm, I didn’t know I had a medal wrapped up, basically in my head until I had 100 meters to go and as soon as I got over the last barrier I could enjoy it. That was very fun.”
Coached by former UW men’s cross country coach Jerry Schumacher and former Badger Pascal Dobert, an Olympian in the steeplechase himself in 2000, Jager crossed the line in 8 minutes, 4.51 seconds to earn Team USA’s first medal in the men’s steeplechase since Brian Diemer earned bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In addition, Jager’s placing at the 2016 Summer Olympics was the best by an American since Horace Ashenfelter claimed gold in 1952.
“I know the history of the sport especially in the U.S. and I know how dominant Kenya has been in the last 20 or 30 years,” Jager said. “I do know how big of an achievement it is. I don’t know if it has hit me yet. The happiness has definitely hit me but outside of that I haven’t really thought about anything.”
“Evan ran with passion, courage and belief,” UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. “Over the last couple of years, he consistently believed that he could compete with the very best in the world and today proved that. It’s awesome to see a former Badger and a USA athlete taking on the best in the world, especially the Kenyans who have dominated this event for so many years, and win the medal.”
An All-American at UW during the 2009 season, Jager also ran the second-fastest steeplechase time in Olympic history, trailing only race winner Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya, who finished Wednesday’s race in 8:03.28
Jager is the first former UW track and field athlete to earn a medal since Lloyd LaBeach won bronze in the 100 meters at the 1948 Olympics. The Algonquin, Illinois, native is also the first Badger to earn an Olympic medal in an individual event since Andy Rein earned a silver medal in wrestling at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
The North American record holder in the steeplechase, Jager helped push the pace of the steeplechase early, as he, two-time Olympic gold medalist Ezekiel Kemboi and Kipruto separated themselves from the chase pack.
Jager grabbed the lead with three laps remaining, one he would hold until the bell lap as Kipruto and Kemboi passed him. The former Badger remained in third until there were 100 meters left as Jager outkicked Kemboi to finish second.
Ahmed advances in 5000 meters
Jager wasn’t the only former UW distance standout in action on Wednesday at the Olympic Games, as Mohammed Ahmed finished sixth in his section of the 5000 meters in 13:21.00 to advance to Saturday’s final.
The Canadian record holder in the 5000 meters, Ahmed was the fastest time qualifier between the two sections of the event. The top-five finishers from each heat, along with the next five fastest athletes, advanced from the field of 51 to the final.
“I did what I needed to do, which is to qualify,” Ahmed said. “All that matters is that I’m in the final. I knew with a lap to go at the bell, I just needed to run a 60-second last lap and pass a few people and I would be in, and that’s what I did.”
“It’s great he made it to the final,” Byrne said. “It looked like he made some tactical errors but at the end of that day all that matters is if you make it and you get to do it again. We can’t wait to watch him on Saturday night.”
Placed in the second section of the 5000 meters, Ahmed started the race towards the back of the main pack as approximately 20 runners broke away early from the rest of the field.
With 2000 meters remaining, Ahmed was in 15th place, but slowly started to pick off the field, moving into 10th with 1200 meters left.
The St. Catharines, Ontario, native cracked the top 10 with two laps remaining as the pace picked up tremendously.
The former Badger star soared into sixth heading into the bell lap, where he would ultimately finish.
Ahmed will race on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.
--#Badgers--