Jager already owned the six fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase times in U.S. track and field history. Before this summer, Jager was recognized as an upcoming threat in the race Kenyans have pretty much owned for the past 30 years.

Joel and Cathy Jager see it in their 26-year-old son, in his running and in his speech.

“He’s a completely different kid, now a completely different young man, than he was a year ago,” Joel said. “He has a different level of confidence than he had in world championships past and at the [2012] Olympics.”