Reggie Jagers, Evan Jager Share Spotlight On Final Day

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

DES MOINES – Before and after a three-hour storm delay at Drake Stadium, Reggie Jagers and Evan Jager made their marks on the final day of the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Jagers, a rare left-handed discus thrower, was the starring figure in an unexpectedly intense competition, and he launched a big PR and No. 5 throw in the world (68.65m/225-1) to win the title with his fifth-round attempt. The throw sailed four meters past his previous lifetime best.

Jagers’ throw came in response to Olympian Mason Finley’s best throw, 67.06 (220-0).

“I just love being a guy that no one’s talking about, coming out here and breaking a record,” said Jagers, an unsigned professional representing the Iron Wood Track Club.

The record that Jagers referred to is the facility mark, which was bested four times by three throwers during the competition.

Jager, after killing three hours during a thunderstorm, came to the track and demonstrated his excellence in the 3,000-meter steeplechase – winning the national championship for the seventh straight year.

“I think it just shows that I’ve been consistent over a long period of time, I’ve been healthy for a long time, and I don’t take years off,” Jager said.

With Hillary Bor giving chase throughout, Jager set the tempo and used experience to guide his acceleration at the end. Jager ran 8:20.10 and gained separation from Bor over the final lap.

With his seventh straight U.S. title, Jager matched Henry Marsh’s streak of wins from 1981-87.

Just prior to the men’s steeplechase, the meet was halted to let a thunderstorm pass through. Fans cleared out of the stadium, athletes went into a holding pattern with just five races and a single field event remaining from a four-day meet.

It was an unfortunate pause in the action. Jeff Henderson, who was leading the long jump after three rounds, did not return for the second half of the competition – and yet still won based on his first-round leap of 26-7 (8.10m).

Michael Norman, the sensational 20-year old from USC who recently turned pro, packed his bags and didn’t return to the finals of the 200 meters.

Three hours of waiting out the rain caused many spectators to leave for good.

Before the break, Clayton Murphy made a strong showing and won his second U.S. 800-meter title in three years. After a somewhat tactical opening 400 meters, Clayton stepped up the pace and split 51.97 over the final half to win in 1:46.50.

New Nike pro Isaiah Harris, the NCAA Division 1 champion from Penn State, was second in 1:47.11 and Iowa City-based Eric Sowinski was third in 1:47.76.

And in the high jump, Jeron Robinson, an IAAF World Championships qualifier in 2017, cleared 7-7 (2.31m) to claim the title. Four-time champion Erik Kynard made 7-5.75 (2.28m) but aggravated an injury to his right Achilles’ heel and did not make another bar. Kynard finished second and Trey Culver of Texas Tech was third, also with a 7-5.75 clearance.

Then came the rain.

After the meet resumed, about 7 p.m. Central time, Jager locked down his steeplechase victory and the meet wrapped up over the following hour.

Ameer Webb won the 200 in 20.47, running into a slight headwind. Without Norman in the competition, Webb had a clear path to his second straight national title.

“About 5 o’clock I saw (Norman) packing up and saw that he was out,” Webb said. “I was like ‘Well, it just got easy.’”

Truthfully, Webb said he was looking forward to racing Norman because he wanted to beat the best.

Norman is the world leader in the 400 at 43.61 and has a best this season of 19.84w in the 200.

“I was hoping he would show up because he’s running really fast and I like to run against the best, so it took away a little bit from the victory,” Webb said.

In the long jump, no one was able to find the energy needed to supplant Henderson’s 26-7 in a mostly empty stadium. Zack Bazile of Ohio State could not improve on his 26-6.25 after the storm. He took a foul and passed twice because of a calf cramp.

Marquis Dendy, who had 26-4.50, had one short jump, a pass and a foul in his final three attempts.

In the men’s 5,000, Paul Chelimo successfully defended his title, outkicking Ryan Hill to win in 13:29.47. Hill was strong late but couldn’t quite match Chelimo and was timed in 13:29.67.

Hassan Mead, Riley Masters, Emmanuel Bor, Grant Fisher and Reid Buchanan were all within three seconds of Chelimo at the end.

In the finale, Devon Allen rallied for his third 110 hurdles title in five years over the final few hurdles to catch Grant Holloway and despite hitting the last barrier edged out the sophomore star from Florida by .002 seconds.

It took a photo finish to separate Allen from Holloway after both were timed in 13.46. (It was 13.452 to 13.454).

“I’m not up in the booth, so I don’t make those decisions, but I’ll take it,” Allen said.

Allen won his first title in 2014 by .006 seconds.

The two young hurdlers spent part of their three-hour wait chatting with one another.

“We play Fortnite a lot together, so we talk to each other a couple of times a week,” Allen said. “I think maybe I’m lucky he’s not coming out pro right now so I can avoid him a little bit (longer).”