Diamond League names Evan Jager’s steeplechase as moment of 2015

In an event dominated by African-born runners, American Evan Jager’s near sub-8:00 performance and fall in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Meeting AREVA in Paris on July 4 was the series’ moment of 2015.

Jager, who currently trains in Oregon with the Bowerman Track Club alongside Canadians Mo Ahmed and Matt Hughes, finished in 8:00.45, an American record, but narrowly missed running sub-eight, a milestone in the event.

The 26-year-old American held a considerable margin over eventual winner Jairus Birech heading into the final straight, on pace to break the 8:00 barrier, but fell on the final hurdle. Birech overtook Jager with 50 metres remaining and took the Paris title in 7:58.83.

8:00.45 and the best has yet to come. #AmericanRecord #LegendsNeverDie

A photo posted by Bowerman Track Club (@bowermantc) on Jul 5, 2015 at 10:57am PDT

“The stupid mistake cost me sub-eight minutes, one of my big goals,” Jager told the IAAF afterwards. “I think I would have been able to run about 7:56 if I had not fallen.”

Kenya has been known as the best steeplechase nation in the world winning each Olympic men’s title since 1984 including a clean sweep of the event in 1992 and 2004. The women’s 3,000m steeplechase was only added to the Olympic Games program in 2008.

RELATED: Canadian 3,000m steeplechase record holder joins Bowerman Track Club.

The IAAF Diamond League is an annual track and field series with events taking place in Europe, North America and Asia.