Evan Jager has a knack for making American history in the steeplechase.
Two years after setting the United States record and a year after winning silver at the 2016 Olympics, the former UW athlete became the first American to medal at the world championships thanks to a third-place showing at the IAAF meet in London.
An All-American at UW during the 2009 season, Jager crossed the line in 8 minutes, 15.53 seconds, a second behind winner Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya and Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali.
Jager led for a majority of the 7½-lap-race but lost the lead to Kipruto, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, with just over 200 meters to go.