ALGONQUIN – Evan Jager spent the summer thrilling the McHenry County area with his ascent to becoming an Olympic runner.

Jager, a steeplechase novice, started crushing the competition in his new race, gaining more notoriety, more Twitter followers and more Facebook and text messages from friends and fans.

Jager felt the love, and when he recently spoke with his mother, Cathy, before coming home for two weeks of vacation, he needed a way to say “Thanks!” That happened at Jacobs High School’s main gymnasium Wednesday when about 900 people gathered to honor Jager, a 2007 Jacobs graduate, who was eager to reciprocate.