EUGENE, Ore. – A pair of former Wisconsin distance runners, Evan Jager and Reed Connor, spent their Fourth of July attempting to advance at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Monday at Hayward Field.

The American record-holder in the steeplechase, Jager won the second section of the steeplechase in 8 minutes, 33.73 seconds, to automatically advance to the final.

"I felt good and wanted to get through as relaxed as possible," Jager said. "I wanted to do as little leading as possible until the end and get out in front and have clear barriers and not fall."

Jager started the race in the middle of the pack, but moved towards the front of the pack three laps into the race. He took the lead with under four laps to go, one he never lost, en route to running the day's sixth-best time.

Jager will compete in the steeplechase final on Friday at 7:23 p.m. CT.

In his first career race at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Connor was unable to advance to the final in the 5000 meters, finishing ninth in his section and 20th overall in 13:53.73.

"I was the last guy to qualify in my event," Connor said. "I wish the race had played out differently. I was in the second heat, which is normally faster than the first. I was going to one of the top spots in my heat, but it was meant to be. That's how it goes sometimes."

 "But I really liked looking at the results seeing Kelsey (Card) and Zach (Ziemek) make it on Team USA this past weekend, and knowing that Evan (Jager) advanced in the steeplechase. Props to all of the Wisconsin competitors."

Connor announced that he would hang up his spikes after attempting to break the four-minute mark in the mile later this summer. A two-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion at Wisconsin, Connor was an instrumental member of UW's NCAA champion cross country team in 2011.

"Winning the NCAA title, you can't beat that," Connor said of his favorite racing memory. "But my senior year when we were down and out heading into the 5000 meters at Big Ten indoors and outdoors and had to pull out the 1-2-3 finishes to win the conference titles. Those are both great moments and I will remember those moments for the rest of my life."

Competitors will enjoy an off day on Tuesday before the hammer throw takes place on Wednesday at Hayward Field. Former UW standout Michael Lihrman will compete in the men's hammer at 7 p.m.