Evan Jager is by far the fastest U.S. steeplechaser in history.
And that simply isn’t good enough against the Kenyans who have utterly dominated the race at global championships.
Running side-by-side with the leader going into the final lap of Monday’s World Championship final in Beijing, the Jacobs product from Algonquin had no response for the four Kenyans who blasted away from him to sweep the top four places in the 3,000-meter race.
Jager, who came into the meet with the world’s second fastest time this season, wound up sixth, also beaten by teammate Dan Huling.
“It turned into a kickers’ race,” Jager told Universal Sports. “I tried to get to the front without really pressing, but I just ran out of gas.”
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Ezekiel Kemboi, the reigning Olympic champion, won his fourth straight world title in 8 minutes, 11.28 seconds, followed by teammates Conseslus Kipruto (8:12.38) and Brimin Kipruto (8:12.53). The remarkable Kemboi, 33, has won two Olympic titles and seven world medals, the other three silver.
Huling clocked 8:14.39 to 8:15.47 for Jager, who had finished fifth at the last world meet two years ago and sixth in the 2012 Olympics.
“Championship racing is really hard emotionally, mentally and physically,” Jager said. “I’m disappointed but it will fuel my fire for next year.”
This was the 11th Kenyan steeplechase victory and third Kenyan medal sweep in the 15 world meets. The East African country has won 28 of the 45 medals at worlds.
Jager, 26, had improved his personal best by more than four seconds this season. He lowered his own U.S. record for the third time in his career, the latest to 8 minutes, 00.45 seconds despite a fall after the final barrier at the July 4 Diamond League race in Paris.
That made Jager No. 13 all-time in the event.
But championship event racing is different, full of surges and slowdowns, demanding the ability to change tactics unless a runner is able to dictate them from start to finish. Few athletes are willing — or able — to do that at worlds or the Olympics.
No U.S. runner has won a steeplechase medal at worlds. The best finish is a fourth by Brian Diemer in 1987.
Jager never had tried the event until 3 1/2 months before the 2012 Olympics. In his fifth attempt, two week before those London Summer Games, he broke the U.S. record for the first time with an 8:06.61.