Algonquin's Evan Jager finished sixth in Sunday's 3,000-meter steeplechase finals, falling short of a medal.
"It was an awesome experience," Jager told NBC Chicago after the race. "It's been so much fun, didn't think the season would end up this way. At the beginning of the year I kinda hoped for it, but it's been awesome. Awesome ride this year."
The Jacobs High School graduate broke the American record earlier this summer after first competing in the event only in April following a successful cross-country career.
Jager easily finished second in Friday's opening round of the event, finishing second and leading for the last two laps.
Jager, known for his billowing blond hair and intense speeds, was originally a 5K runner, an event that gained him success after he traded his career at University of Wisconsin-Madison for a professional career with Nike in Portland, Ore.
A 2010 injury quickly hindered Jager’s progress, forcing him to turn a year of racing into a year of rehabilitation. The break, however, turned out to be just what he needed.
The 20-year-old athlete finished first in the race at track-and-field Olympic trials, earning him a spot in the 2012 Olympics.
