Seventh heaven: Jager wins seventh-straight U.S. title
June 24, 2018 | Men's Track & Field
Former Badger standout sets facility record at Drake Stadium
DES MOINES, Iowa – On the last day of the U.S. Track and Field Championships, former Badger and reigning national steeplechase champion Evan Jager once again dominated the track and pulled off the win in the 3000-meter steeplechase on Sunday at historic Drake Stadium.
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Despite unfavorable weather conditions that led to a long rain delay, Jager, a two-time All-American at UW, was unfazed and executed a winning steeplechase performance, setting a new Drake Stadium record in the process. The Olympic silver medalist crossed the line in 8 minutes, 20.10 seconds to earn his seventh consecutive U.S. Track and Field Outdoors steeplechase title and to break his own stadium record.
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Jager's seventh consecutive title now matches Henry Marsh's record of consecutive steeplechase titles that he earned from 1981 to 1987.
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Straight from the Track:
Evan Jager
On the rain delay:
"I think the only thing was it was a little bit difficult to get as worked up the second time as I was before the original start time. Mentally, just like nerves. I had some pretty good nerves going before the first one and held that for about 20 minutes after the original start time, and then it started going back down. It was just different. I think my nerves kind of popped up much closer to the race time than I originally would have. I don't really think it affected me that much other than getting up twice, basically. But I was able to stay very focused mentally. Bogging probably actually felt better because I had done two warmups and I was really loose and really warmed up. Just trying to stay with everything mentally was probably the most difficult part, and I don't really think I had a problem doing that."
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On if he still gets nervous before racing:
"Oh, yeah. I think part of keeping a streak alive is helping me get really worked up between races, and I know there's a huge target on my back now. I want to keep going as long as possible. I know that everyone's targeting me at these races and that allows me to get more nervous."
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Despite unfavorable weather conditions that led to a long rain delay, Jager, a two-time All-American at UW, was unfazed and executed a winning steeplechase performance, setting a new Drake Stadium record in the process. The Olympic silver medalist crossed the line in 8 minutes, 20.10 seconds to earn his seventh consecutive U.S. Track and Field Outdoors steeplechase title and to break his own stadium record.
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Jager's seventh consecutive title now matches Henry Marsh's record of consecutive steeplechase titles that he earned from 1981 to 1987.
Â
Straight from the Track:
Evan Jager
On the rain delay:
"I think the only thing was it was a little bit difficult to get as worked up the second time as I was before the original start time. Mentally, just like nerves. I had some pretty good nerves going before the first one and held that for about 20 minutes after the original start time, and then it started going back down. It was just different. I think my nerves kind of popped up much closer to the race time than I originally would have. I don't really think it affected me that much other than getting up twice, basically. But I was able to stay very focused mentally. Bogging probably actually felt better because I had done two warmups and I was really loose and really warmed up. Just trying to stay with everything mentally was probably the most difficult part, and I don't really think I had a problem doing that."
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On if he still gets nervous before racing:
"Oh, yeah. I think part of keeping a streak alive is helping me get really worked up between races, and I know there's a huge target on my back now. I want to keep going as long as possible. I know that everyone's targeting me at these races and that allows me to get more nervous."
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