KIMbia Athletics

Thursday, August 2, 2012

2012 Olympian: Evan Jager

Illinois’ Evan Jager may have a slim international CV compared to our other Olympians, but that’s to be expected at 23 years of age. Plus, he has something that’s arguably far more important: medal-level talent. He first showed he belonged on the world-stage at the junior level, placing 8th at the World Junior Championships. And his rapid ascendancy through the US — and world — steeple ranks is well-documented: his American Record 8:06.81 came in his fifth steeple ever, and placed him third in a Diamond League race. This, all, in the most technical (read: hardest to learn) middle-distance event. The Kenyans are always formidable in the steeple, but Jager will enter London with the 4th-fastest season-best in the field. Defending World Champion Ezekial Kemboi and reigning European Champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad might have an edge on paper, as well — but Jager will still enjoy some of the shortest medal-winning odds of any American distance runner at these Games.