Bor Earns USATF Championships Silver in Steeplechase

DES MOINES, Iowa – Hillary Bor added to his outstanding career resume with a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on a rainy Sunday at the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium. Bor finished on the podium in the steeplechase for a third-straight outdoor season, adding to his 2016 silver medal, and bronze medal in 2017.

"You always want to win," Bor said following his race. "But I feel like when you go out there and run your best you have to be happy with your results. I think I ran my best today."

Bor's day back on the track at Drake Stadium was deferred by just over three hours while a heavy thunderstorm passed through the Des Moines area.

"I literally did nothing," Bor said reflecting on the delay. "It is so hard to wait and keep waiting. The timing is difficult. I had lunch at noon, and in-between you don't know what time you are going to run, so you do not want to eat too much. I snacked and laid around."

After a lengthy rain delay which set the schedule back by three hours, Bor and the steeplechase field finally took to the track. Despite the lengthy delay and many of the fans not making their way back, those who stuck around got a show from Bor, who used some aggressive tactics to keep the pace honest against six-time U.S. champion Evan Jager.

This was not Bor's first rodeo with lengthy delays prior to a major steeplechase race. The four-time All-American as a Cyclone recalled one of the best races of his career in similar circumstances, when he finished second in the steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

"I look back at the 2009 NCAAs, we had the same issue," Bor recalled. "We waited for about four hours, and that was my best race in college. I was joking around saying 'maybe this will be my day'. You have to be mentally ready for those situations. You cannot control the weather, so mental preparation is the key."

The final lap was a three-horse race between Jager, Bor and Andy Bayer. Jager got the edge off the final water jump to bring home his seventh U.S. title, with Bor finishing strong to take second place via a 61.84 final lap.

"The last three years have been up and down," Bor reflected. "I had a groin injury last year, and I still made the World Team, but I was injured. I did not qualify for the finals at World's, and though I was injured I keep thinking about it. It is hard when you earn a spot on a team, and then don't make finals. I wish I knew the extent of my injury then, but I have used that as my motivation since I have gotten back."

A four-time All-American and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American while a Cyclone, Bor took advantage of the time being back in the Cyclone State to reflect on his time in Ames.

"My uncle Barnaba (Korir) ran at Iowa State and I knew Bill Bergan before I came here," Bor said about his alma mater. "It is a home because I know a lot of people, and ISU gave me the opportunity to grow as a person, not just as an athlete. It means a lot to me, Iowa State has been my second home."

Iowa State University Athletics

Bor Earns USATF Championships Silver in Steeplechase

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