Jager wins sixth-straight U.S. steeplechase crown

Sunday, June 25

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Photo by: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Jager wins sixth-straight U.S. steeplechase crown

June 25, 2017 | Men's Track & Field

Two-time Olympian and former UW standout qualifies for IAAF World Championships

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – To say that Evan Jager has been successful in the steeplechase would be an understatement.

The former Wisconsin men's track and field star, who started competing in the event in 2012, showed his dominance once again on Sunday, winning his sixth-straight national title at the U.S. outdoor championships at Hornet Stadium.

Jager, the silver medalist in the steeplechase at the 2016 Summer Olympics, crossed the line in 8 minutes, 16.88, to earn an automatic spot at next month's 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.

.@EvanJager after winning his 6th straight USA steeplechase title. #USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/E3SCKMjCXh
— David Monti (@d9monti) June 25, 2017

A two-time All-American while at UW, Jager began the race in the middle of the pack, but moved to second with at the midway point of the race. He then took the lead with less than 800 meters and never looked back.

Thanks to Jager's win, a Badger has won nine of the last 20 U.S. national championships in the steeplechase as former Badger star Pascal Dobert, one of Jager's coaches, won three-straight U.S. titles from 1998-2000.

A native of Algonquin, Illinois, Jager is the second Badger to qualify for the world championships after fellow American Zach Ziemek qualified for the world competition in the decathlon.