| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | March 8, 1989 Algonquin, Illinois |
| Residence | Portland, Oregon |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Running |
| Club | Nike/Oregon Track Club |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 5000 m: 13:22.18 |
Evan Jager (born March 8, 1989) is an American distance runner. He currently competes for Nike's Oregon Track Club and is represented by KIMbia Athletics.
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Jager attended Jacobs High School in Algonquin, IL, a satellite community northwest of Chicago.[1] As a junior he placed 9th at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in San Diego.[2] That same year he would lower his personal best in the mile run to 4:08.15, winning the Midwest Distance Gala.
His senior year, he ran 8:47.59 in the 2-Mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals, the secondary schools' National Championships, which was good for 4th place. The following day he placed 3rd in the mile competition, despite competing in the "B" heat, his time of 4:05.68 beating all but two of the entrants in the top heat. During his High School career he won or was part of 4 State Championships. 2006, 4X800m Relay (7:40.02), 2006, 1600M (4:11.22), 2006, (Sr.year) Cross Country State Champ (3 mi) 14:07, 2007, Track 3200m (8:52.33). HS personal Bests: 800m, (1:51.42), Mile, (4:05.68), 2 Mile, (8:47.59).
Jager chose to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he would compete for the Badgers under the charge of coach Jerry Schumacher.[3] He did not compete his freshman year at the NCAA Championships for Cross Country or Indoor Track, but in the spring of 2008, Jager placed 8th at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships.[4]
The summer after his freshman year, Jager represented the United States in the 2008 IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships. He made the finals of the 1500 m and finished 8th in 3:49.59.
That fall, Jager signed a professional contract with Nike, forfeiting his remaining NCAA eligibility. He left the University of Wisconsin and moved to Portland to continue training with Schumacher, who had been hired by Nike to be a full-time coach to professional Nike-sponsored runners. Jager enrolled in Portland State University to continue his studies.[3]
Jager contended his first USATF Outdoor Championship in the 5000 m, where he took the lead with 200 m to go, before finishing in third place behind teammates Matt Tegenkamp and Chris Solinsky. By finishing third, Jager earned the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin. At the World Championships, Jager placed 11th in his heat of the 5000 m, and did not advance to the final.
Much of Jager's first season as a professional was documented in the Runner's World web series "Wisconsin to Worlds," which followed the teammates' historic sweep at the US Championships and their European season, as they prepared for the 2009 IAAF World Championships.[5]
| Distance | Performance | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1500 m | 3:38.33 | July 18, 2009 |
| Mile | 3:54.35 | June 7, 2009 |
| 3000 m | 7:41.78 | July 28, 2009 |
| 5000 m | 13:22.18 | June 26, 2009 |