Jacobs graduate Evan Jager and and France's Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad compete in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase heats Friday at the London Olympics. | Olivier Morin~Getty Images

Jacobs graduate Evan Jager jumps over a water pit during a 3,000-meter steeplechase preliminary heat Friday at the London Olympics. | Alexander Hassenstein~Getty Images

Evan Jager of the United States and Tarik Langat Akdag of Turkey race out in front during the 3,000-meter steeplechase heats on Day 7 of the London Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Friday. | Jamie Squire~Getty Images

Evan Jager (front right) and France's Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad compete in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase heats at the London Olympics on Friday. | Gabriel Bouys~Getty Images

Evan Jager (front left) and Turkey's Tarik Langat Akdag (front right) compete in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase heats Friday at the London Olympics. | Johannes Eisele~Getty Images

Evan Jager leads the pack during a men's 3,000-meter steeplechase preliminary heat Friday at the London Olympics. | Gabriel Bouys~Getty Images

Ethiopia's Nahom Mesfin (center) and American Evan Jager (right) compete in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase heats Friday at the London Olympics. | Eric Feferberger~Getty Images

Evan Jager leads the pack during a preliminary heat in the 3,000-meter steeplechase competition Friday at the London Olympics. | Olivier Morin~Getty Images

Turkey's Tarik Langat Akdag (right) and Jacobs graduate Evan Jager compete in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase heats Friday at the London Olympics. | Eric Feferberg~Getty Images

Jacobs graduate Evan Jager clears a hurdle during a 3,000-meter steeplechase preliminary heat Friday at the London Olympics. | Johannes Eisele~Getty Images

Evan Jager (right) competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase heats Friday at the London Olympics. | Stu Forster~Getty Images

Jacobs graduate Evan Jager (second from right) competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase preliminary heats Friday at the London Olympics. | Stu Forster~Getty Images