Jager wins steeplechase silver, best U.S. finish since 1952
A few seconds after Glastonbury High graduate Donn Cabral finished the Olympic 3,000-meter steeplechase final Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, he pulled silver medalist Evan Jager in for a hug.
Cabral, who graduated from Glastonbury in 2008, had run a time of 8 minutes, 25.81 seconds and finished eighth in the final, but the moment belonged to his U.S teammate.
Jager had just ended a 32-year medal drought for the Americans in the mens steeplechase, running 8:04.28 for second behind gold medal winner Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya.
Kipruto crossed the line in 8:03.28 to become the ninth straight Kenyan to win gold in the event, which includes running, hurdling and jumping over a water pit.
Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya, who won the gold in 2004 and 2012, finished third with a time of 8:08.47 but was disqualified hours later for what the IAAF, the sports governing body, called an infringement of the inside border." France"s Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad filed a formal complaint after the race and claimed that Kemboi made a lane violation. Mekhissi-Benabbad, who finished more than three seconds behind Kemboi, was given the bronze.
Both Kipruto and Jager broke the Olympic record of 8:05.51, set by Julius Kariuki of Kenya in 1988.
In London four years ago, Cabral and Jager made their Olympic debuts in the steeplechase and ran well, signaling a new era for American track and field. Jager finished sixth and Cabral was eighth. But in Brazil, Cabral, 26, was unable to stay in contact with the leaders for much of the race.
Jager, who trains in Portland, Ore., and is from Algonquin, Ill., is the first American man to win a medal since Brian Diemer won bronze in Los Angeles in 1984.
Jagers medal was the best for an American in the event since 1952. Horace Ashenfelter won gold for the U.S. in 1952 and George Young got bronze in 1968.
Cabral fought for position late in the final.
After spending the first half of the race behind the leaders, Cabral started inching up with about three laps left. He looked poised for a possible final kick. But at the same time, Jager was making his own move and testing Kipruto and Kemboi.
As Cabral worked to get into the top six with two laps left, Jager lengthen his stride and took over the lead. Cabral handled the water pit cleanly and avoided a late fall in the second to last lap by a competitor, but the damage was done.
He was out of space.
In 2012, Cabral ran 8:25.91 in the final.
It was the first time in 80 years that three Americans ran in the final. Hillary Bor ran 8:22.74 for seventh.
Cabral entered the final with the third fastest time in Mondays three qualifying rounds.
In his heat, Cabral ran at the back of the pack for the first few laps before he moved up late to take the third automatic qualifier with a time of 8:21.96. Bor and Jager won their qualifying heats in 8:25.01 and 8:25.86.
At the U.S. track and field trials in Eugene, Ore., on July 3, Cabral ran 8:26.37 to finish third and make the team, but he wasnt content with his performance.
After training at altitude in Flagstaff, Ariz., before the trials for six weeks, Cabral felt ready. He was healthy and prepared for the demands of elite racing. But at the trials, he needed a fall by Stanley Kebenei to make the Olympics.
Cabral ran 8:20.72 to win the steeplechase in his final warmup on July 29. He then handled the qualifying race, knowing exactly what he needed to make the final.
Cabral has a history of handling himself well in his biggest races. But Wednesdays race proved too quick for Cabral.
Mekhissi-Benabbad, the silver medalist in 2012, ran 8:11.52 for third and Soufiane Elbakkali of Morocco ran 8:14.35 for fourth.
Jacob Araptany of Uganda fell early in the race and didnt finish after hitting the front of a barrier.
Cabral was looking to become the first athlete from Connecticut to win a medal in the event in 84 years. In 1932, Manchesters Joe McCluskey was the bronze medalist in Los Angeles.
Source: http://www.courant.com/sports/olympics/hc-oly-donn-cabral-steeplechase-0818-20160817-story.html
