STANFORD, Calif. – Morgan McDonald had waited a long time to make his outdoor track and field debut for Wisconsin.

The redshirt freshman sat out last year's outdoor campaign, as the talented Sydney, Australia, native competed in the spring at the 2015 IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships in China.

McDonald's outdoor opener for the Badgers was worth the wait, as he broke the Wisconsin freshman record in the 5000 meters with a time of 13 minutes, 34.78 seconds at the prestigious Peyton Jordan Invitational on Sunday night at the Cobb Track and Angell Field.

"I couldn't be happier with my performance," McDonald said. "I think it's a reflection of all of the hard work that we've been putting in. When I think about all of the great distance runners that have come through Wisconsin it feels amazing to be a step closer to being mentioned among them."

McDonald's time, which earned him third in his section of the 5000 meters at Stanford, ranks him sixth all-time on Wisconsin's top-10 list. Only UW legends Chris Solinsky, Mohammed Ahmed, Matt Tegenkamp, Maverick Darling and Elliot Krause have faster times than the Australian distance ace.

"That was a fantastic run by Morgan running a huge personal best," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "He's right up there on the school's all-time list with some of the best runners, not only in program history, but in conference and NCAA history. Morgan ran a smart, aggressive race and showed great maturity. Before tonight's race, we discussed having confidence in his training and he executed our race plan to perfection."

McDonald's time ranks as the eighth-best time by a Badger in a regular season meet and puts him fifth in the NCAA this season.

In addition to McDonald, four former Badgers competed at Payton Jordan. 

Evan Jager, a 2012 Olympian in the steeplechase, opened his outdoor season with a third-place showing in the top section of the 1500 meters by finishing in 3:38.67 

Ahmed, a 5000 and 10,000 meters specialist, was eighth in the 1500 meters in 3:42.93, as the Big Ten record holder in the 10,000 meters chases a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Reed Connor, a three-time Big Ten champion during his career at UW, competed in the first section of the 5000 meters and placed 13th in 13:38.78.

Rounding out the action for the UW alums was Darling, who finished 25th in the 10,000 meters in 29:03.22.