MADISON, WIS. —
When
Morgan McDonald redshirted the 2017 season, the dream for 2018 was to win the NCAA cross country individual title on home turf at the Zimmer Championship Course during his last year of eligibility. That dream became a reality on Saturday after McDonald out-kicked top-ranked Grant Fisher of Stanford down the home stretch to seal the historic victory.
"As soon as we thought that we might be hosting nationals when I was a sophomore, maybe even a freshman, this is something that we knew down the line might be an option," said McDonald. "This was 100 percent the reason. This and we thought the team could be a bit better. It was all centered around this 2018 nationals held in Madison with a Badger crowd. It was all about that."
"Training for Morgan started way back in April," added Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
Mick Byrne. "After he got hurt, the plan was for him to come back and run outdoor track. Sometimes the best made plans don't work. We decided at that time, that we would put all of our focus into today. He started training May 1. To go through six months of training, as the months passed by, just mounting up to just trying to win this at home in front of this amazing crowd. I don't think I've ever seen an NCAA crowd like this. The numbers I don't know, but incredible event. To do it at home is just amazing."
McDonald stayed controlled throughout the race, sticking with the pace set by the lead pack. Around the 8K mark, there was a set 12-person pack with a large gap between them and the rest of the runners.
The lead pack stayed tight right up until the end, giving the spectators a show with the top men battling it out on the snowy course. In the last stretch, McDonald pulled ahead, cruising through the finish to the sound of thousands of cheering Badgers fans as he clinched the 2018 NCAA Cross Country individual title with a 10K time of 29 minutes, 8.3 seconds, capping off a remarkable cross country career at UW.
"With 400 to go, I knew that there were still so many bodies there and I was trying not to be the first one to make a move," McDonald said. "I knew I had Grant (Fisher) there and (Edwin) Kurgat, so I was just trying to vibe off of them, see when they were going to make their moves and when the time was right I kind of put my foot down and just prayed that it was enough to pull away and get the victory."
McDonald is the first Badger to win an NCAA cross country individual title since 2005 when Simon Bairu won the championship title at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. In addition, the Sydney, Australia native is the first male athlete to win an NCAA cross country title on their home course since Bob Kennedy of Indiana accomplished the feat in 1992.
"Down the the homestretch and throughout the whole race I can't even tell you how crazy it was," said McDonald. "The whole race on either side was packed with Badgers fans just yelling out my name and supporting the Badgers. It was really amazing! I felt it the whole way."
"On a personal level, when you coach someone for five years, some of it is level," said Coach Byrne. "You help them through this journey. The last five years have had a lot of up and downs. That is a world-class athlete. Just when you go on the journey like that with someone the last five or six months have been incredible. I'm so proud of Morgan and all of the kids."
Finishing next for Wisconsin was junior Olli Hoare, who took 17th overall with a time of 29:37.8. Both McDonald and Hoare earned All-America honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for their top-40 finishes.
Next to cross the line for the Badgers were juniors
Olin Hacker and Ben Eidenschink. Hacker took 56th overall in 30:12.8 while Eidenschink finished with a 10K time of 30:39.5.
Rounding out the scoring for UW was freshman
Shuaib Aljabaly, who finished with a time of 30:49.9 in his first appearance at the national meet. Wisconsin finished eighth overall in the team standings with 240 points.
Also competing in the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships were senior
Tyson Miehe and freshman
Derick Peters. Miehe finished in 31:52.8 while Peters came through with a time of 32:40.0 in his first 10K race in uniform.
Northern Arizona won their third-straight NCAA cross country team title with 83 points, while BYU was the runner-up with 116 points. Portland took the third-place spot with 160 points.
The 2018 cross country season is officially complete and the Badgers will turn their attention to indoor track. Wisconsin is set to host The Dual versus Minnesota on January 12 at the Camp Randall Shell.
"I'm doing everything I can for this program to try and put my name up there," McDonald said. "Getting that individual title, not too many people have done that, but I hope to still do a bit more through track season. Then when I'm done, we'll see where the dust settles."
2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships Results
November 17, 2018
Madison, Wis.
Men's Championship 10K:
1. Northern Arizona – 83 points
2. BYU – 116 points
3. Portland – 160 points
4. Colorado – 178 points
5. Stanford – 201 points
8. Wisconsin – 240 points
Wisconsin Results:
1.
Morgan McDonald – 29:08.3
17.
Oliver Hoare – 29:37.8
56.
Olin Hacker – 30:12.8
104. Ben Eidenschink – 30:39.5
120.
Shuaib Aljabaly – 30:49.9
212.
Tyson Miehe – 31:52.8
237.
Derick Peters – 32:40.0
