Evan Takes 3rd in Zurich Weltklasse 5,000

After making a bold front-running bid for victory, Evan placed third in the 5,000 at Zurich's Weltklasse meet on September 1. He finished in 13:16.86, behind Olympic bronze medalist Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia and Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo of the United States.

Evan was the only one to go with the two pacemakers, Hillary Maiyo and Cornelius Kangogo of Kenya. They passed through the first kilometer in 2:34.44, the pace assigned to the rabbits before the race. Nonetheless, after 1,600 meters Evan and the pacemakers had almost 100 meters on the chase pack.

"I was ready for a really fast, really hard race," Evan told Race Results Weekly. "We thought the race was going to go fast, thought everyone wanted to run fast. I just tried to get off the line pretty hard and set myself in... But no one went out, it was the weirdest thing."

Evan took possession of the lead in the fourth kilometer, but was unable to keep building his lead on his own. The hard-charging Gebrhiwet passed Evan entering the final straight.

"I just came up 100 meters short, which is brutal, but I'm happy with how I raced for sure," Evan said.

Evan will conclude his outdoor season with one last steeplechase in Brussels, on Friday, September 9.

Evan Wins Olympic Silver Medal

With brave front running in the middle of the race, then a strong sprint in the final straightaway, Evan Jager won the silver medal in the Olympic steeplechase final on Wednesday morning. Both Evan (8:04.28) and gold medalist Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya (8:03.28) bettered the previous Olympic record of 8:05.51.

“I’m extremely happy,” Evan told Runner’s World. “It was indescribable. It was a lot of years of hard work and daydreaming and dreaming about the moment all coming true. I didn’t know I had a medal wrapped up until 100 meters to go. As soon as I got over the last barrier, I could fully enjoy it and that was very fun.”

Evan’s is the first Olympic medal by an American man in the steeple since Brian Diemer won bronze in 1984. His silver is the best U.S. showing in the Olympics since Horace Ashenfelter won in 1952.

In perhaps the ultimate compliment, two-time Olympic and four-time world champion Ezekiel Kemboi said after the race, “One day, one time, Evan Jager from the United States will be world champion or the Olympic champion.”

Evan Repeats as Olympic Trials Steeple Champ

Make that Evan Jager, two-time Olympian. The U.S. record holder won his fifth straight national steeplechase title, and second consecutive Olympic Trials, Friday in Eugene, Oregon. Taking over in the second half of the race, Evan won in 8:22.48.

After a slow opening, Evan took the lead in the third full lap and stayed there to the end. A 64-second lap started to split the field, and subsequent 62-second circuits finished everyone off.

Back in February, Evan said he cares about only two races this year, the Olympic Trials final and the Olympic final. So far, so good!

Evan Finishes Second at San Silvestre Vallecana 10K - Madrid

Picture courtesy of @bilbaoatletismo

Making his 10k road racing debut on New Year's Eve, Evan ran a strong race from start to finish, placing second overall in 28:56 at the San Silvestre Vallecana race. He ran with the lead pack for the entire race, only losing to defending champion Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (formerly Mike Kigen). Accompanied by 40,000 runners, the Madrid race ranks as one of the top 20 largest in the world.

Nike and Madrid sure know how to put on a road race!!! 40,000+ people! #werunmad @nikerunning

A video posted by Evan Jager (@evanjager) on Dec 31, 2015 at 9:46am PST

The Quest for Sub-8 - Diamond League Moment of the Year

The IAAF Diamond League named Evan's fall and near sub-8 steeplechase finish in Paris as their Moment of the Year. Part of their celebration was creating this lovely 4+ minute video, showing the determination and heartbreak of Evan's American record race. Here's to an even better 2016!

Ringing in the New Year...in Madrid

It's time to ring in the Olympic year and what better way than hitting the roads and racing on New Year's Eve. Evan joins 40,000+ runners in Madrid tomorrow at the San Silvestre Vallecana, racing the 10k course against some notable competition, including fellow steeplechase star Ezekiel Kemboi. 

According to the IAAF:

“The race is held on a slightly downhill 10km point-to-point course and starts alongside Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium before finishing on the pitch of another Spanish first division club Rayo Vallecano in Madrid’s southern suburbs.

The men’s contest looks to be a three-horse battle in the guise of last year’s winner Kaan Kigen Ozbilen of Turkey – formerly Mike Kigen of Kenya – and two of the world’s best steeplechasers: four-time world champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya and US record-holder Evan Jager.”

The year ahead promises to be one filled with exciting races, furious finishes and of course the Olympic Games in Rio. Here's to starting off 2016 on the right foot!

Kemboi, Jager and Masai Among Vast Array of Talent in Madrid (IAAF)