HR1390 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1390 LRB099 22956 GRL 50399 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Evan Jager, originally from Algonquin, on the occasion of winning a silver medal in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase in the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 17, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Evan Jager is a 2007 graduate of Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin, where he won three individual State championship titles and one relay title for distance running; and

WHEREAS, Evan Jager continued his track and field excellence as a distance runner at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he represented the United States in the 2008 IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships and advanced to the finals of the 1500-meter event in the summer after his freshman year; and

WHEREAS, In the fall of 2008, Evan Jager left the University of Wisconsin and moved to Portland, Oregon to train professionally with his former Wisconsin coach Jerry Schumacher; and

WHEREAS, After returning to competition following a 2010 foot injury, Evan Jager was introduced to the 3000-meter steeplechase in 2012, where he made his debut in April at the Mt. SAC Relays as a steeplechase runner and won first race with a time of 8:26.14, just three seconds off of the Olympic standard necessary to qualify for participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games; he followed that impressive first race with an easy win at the 2012 United States Olympic Team Trials for the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:17.40; in July of 2012, he broke the American record for the event with a time of 8:06.81; and

WHEREAS, Evan Jager competed in the London Olympic Games on August 5, 2012 and finished sixth in the finals; and

WHEREAS, Evan Jager is currently a five-time United States Champion in the 3000-meter steeplechase; and

WHEREAS, Earlier this year, in the lead-up to the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Evan Jager earned his spot on Team USA by winning the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:22.48 at the Olympic Team Trials; and

WHEREAS, Upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Evan Jager won his preliminary heat of the steeplechase on August 15, automatically qualifying him for the event final; on August 17, he competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase final, where he took second place and the silver medal with the second-fastest time in Olympic history for the event at 8:04.28; and

WHEREAS, Evan Jager's silver medal performance marked the first American medal in the event since 1984 and the best American finish in the event since 1952; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Evan Jager on his accomplishment of winning a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and wish him continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Evan Jager as a symbol of our esteem, respect, and admiration.