Photo by: Tom Lynn
McDonald named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year
November 20, 2018 | Men's Cross Country
Senior becomes only the second Badger to receive national honor
MADISON, Wis. – After becoming only the fourth Badger to win an NCAA men's individual cross country title, Wisconsin cross country senior Morgan McDonald was named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Athlete of the Year, the organization announced on Tuesday.
It comes on the heels of McDonald being named the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year on Tuesday after the Sydney, Australia, native won the conference meet last month.
McDonald is only the second Badger to earn the national award, which started in 1994 as UW Hall of Famer Simon Bairu was named the 2004 and 2005 USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year.
The Sydney, Australia, native used a fantastic kick in the final 400 meters to win his first NCAA title on Saturday and to become the first men's runner since 1992 to win an NCAA cross country title on his home course.
McDonald is the fourth Badger to win an individual NCAA title, joining the likes of Walter Mehl (1939), Tim Hacker (1985) and Simon Bairu (2004/2005). UW is now one of only four schools with five or more individual NCAA champions.
A two-time All-American in cross country, McDonald became only the sixth Badger to win multiple Big Ten cross country individual titles in October and led the Cardinal and White to its 49th Big Ten Conference team title.
McDonald wrapped up his cross country career as the first Badger to be named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week, the fourth UW men's runner to earn multiple Big Ten Athlete of the Year honors and the 14th Badger to earn three or more first-team All-Big honors. He was also a part of three Big Ten team title squads and three top-10 teams at the NCAA championships.
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It comes on the heels of McDonald being named the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year on Tuesday after the Sydney, Australia, native won the conference meet last month.
McDonald is only the second Badger to earn the national award, which started in 1994 as UW Hall of Famer Simon Bairu was named the 2004 and 2005 USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year.
The Sydney, Australia, native used a fantastic kick in the final 400 meters to win his first NCAA title on Saturday and to become the first men's runner since 1992 to win an NCAA cross country title on his home course.
McDonald is the fourth Badger to win an individual NCAA title, joining the likes of Walter Mehl (1939), Tim Hacker (1985) and Simon Bairu (2004/2005). UW is now one of only four schools with five or more individual NCAA champions.
A two-time All-American in cross country, McDonald became only the sixth Badger to win multiple Big Ten cross country individual titles in October and led the Cardinal and White to its 49th Big Ten Conference team title.
McDonald wrapped up his cross country career as the first Badger to be named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week, the fourth UW men's runner to earn multiple Big Ten Athlete of the Year honors and the 14th Badger to earn three or more first-team All-Big honors. He was also a part of three Big Ten team title squads and three top-10 teams at the NCAA championships.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
Monday, November 18
Monday, November 11
Monday, November 13
Monday, October 23
