Sports

Jacobs Graduate Evan Jager Qualifies for Olympics in Steeplechase

Evan Jager finished first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Thursday evening at the U.S. Olympics Track and Field finals in Eugene, Oreg.

Evan Jager, a 2007 Jacobs High School graduate, will be heading to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. 

Jager placed first in the 3,000-meter mens steeplechase at the finals for the U.S. Track and Field Olympic trial in Eugene, Oreg., on Thursday evening, according to the Olympic trials results page. 

WATCH: Jager Competes in 3,000-meter Steeplechase Finals

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Jager pulled ahead in the last 500 meters of the race, according to the USATF website. 

“I wanted to go up in top 3rd…I ended up finding myself in 2nd and I got to conserve energy…then I was in the lead with 500 to go and pushed it from there," according to a quote from Jager posted on the USATF's website. "I saw I had it and had pure elation on my face and I knew I was going to London.”

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Jager "stuck out his tongue and pumped his fists as he neared the finish line" during Thursday's race, according to OregonLive.com.

“Mostly I was looking back to make sure I had secured a spot on the team…The crowd was cheering. I kind of played into it and fully embraced the experience of Hayward field," said Jager in a live quote on the USATF website. 

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Jager finished the race in 8:17.40—a personal best, according to the Northwest Herald. It was only his fourth time running the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

“Today was my fourth steeplechase. I wasn’t really worried about my lack of experience coming into the trials because the steeple felt so natural," said Jager in a quote posted on the USATF website. "My first race I was just a few seconds under the A standard, so I was pretty confident I could come and compete with these guys.”

Also qualifying for the Olympics in the steeplechase was Donald Cabral who finished second with a time of 8:19.81 and Kyle Alcorn who finished third with a time of 8:22.17. 

WATCH: NBC Olympics Interview With Jager

Jager is a part of the Nike/Oregon Track Club, according to his profile on the USATF website.  

The summer Olympics in London will be held from July 28 through Aug. 12. 



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