Evan Reese Jager turned in a stellar effort

America’s best 3,000-meter steeplechase runner Evan Reese Jager has come upon disappointing times in recent years, but he certainly returned to form when the world track and field championships were run for the first time in the United States.

Monday was day four of the 10-day meet over the Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, and those representing the host red, white and blue colors were happy to be where they were. The day before, it was a double gold as Chase Ealey of Los Alamos became the first American woman to win the shot put, and that was followed by the USA sweep of the men’s 100 meters, with Fred Kerley finishing first in 9.86, Marvin Bracy second in 9.88, and a split-second behind was third place Trayon Bromwell.

Now it was just the time for the 33-year-old Jager to overcome disappointing times in 2020 and 2021 as he lined up for the third and final qualifying race of the steeplechase, the rugged obstacle race with the barriers and the water drops. Out of Algonquin, Ill., he was off at the start, hung right up front, at the halfway mark stayed with the frontrunners, and down the stretch they came, he and two Kenya runners and Ethiopian Zarzem Ahmed.

He took the final water jump well, and came away ahead of the Kenya runners and a step or two behind Ahmed. They raced stride by stride and Jager finished a step behind in 8:12.03.

“I was happy with my race,” he said, “I kept the pace I wanted, hurdled the jumps well, and finished the way I wanted, right up front. I think I’m ready for the championship race tomorrow.”

It was 2015 that doesn’t escape him. There, in the Olympic qualifying final he held the lead with about 200 meters to go, but down the stretch he was passed not once, not twice, but three times, and stumbled across the finish line. He said he left the track shaking his head and not int he mood to congratulate the others that passed him.

Now he heads for the final as one of three Americans who qualified, and that’s not usual in an event like this. Now at 6-foot-2, 145 pounds, Jager had taken off a few pounds and looked very crisp with every stride.

Not long after, they were running the final women’s 1,500-meter qualifying and Ellie Saint Prince out of Sanford, Fla., was the United States chief hope. She had been America’s best at that distance this year. She went right to the front and stayed there, hung with the frontrunners, and in the final lap she knew she needed to at least place fourth and did in what was a close finish separated by seconds.

It was also a big day for the USA men’s shot put. Just as the men did in the 100 meters, here it was Ryan Crouser, of Portland, Ore., the No. 1 shot putter in the world, leading the US sweep in what was his second straight world title to go with his victory at last year’s Olympics. His rival, Joe Kovacs, took the runners-up spot, and third went to teammate Josh Awotunde.

“We’re proud of it,” said Kovacs. “We always say we’re the best shot put country in the world, and today we provided it. And yesterday, Chase Ealey provided it.”

Another one-two went to the American women in the pole vault. Taking first was Katie Nageotte of Wisconsin, who adds this to her title in Japan last year, and Sandi Morris of Nebraska took second and now has three silver medals from the worlds.

Earlier in the day, the United States’ Brooke Anderson of Rhode Island and Janee’ Kassanavoid of Gary, Indiana, won gold and bronze, respectively, in the women’s hammer throw. And here in day four, the U.S. had totaled 14 medals, 11 more than the next-best countries; and six golds, which was triple the total for second place Ethiopia.

One of Ethiopia’s golds came from Tamirat Tola in the morning’s men’s marathon. Tola separated himself from the pack late and won in 2 hours, five minutes and 36 seconds — a gap of 1:08 over countryman Mosinet Geremew.

Tomorrow takes us to day five and once again sunny skies will be greeting the field at the dressed-up venue that has finally made the world event one held in the Unites State of America.