Twice as Nice: McDonald helps UW complete 5,000 meters sweep

Friday, March 8

ALL DAY

Wisconsin Badgers

NCAA Indoor Championships

Twice as Nice: McDonald helps UW complete 5,000 meters sweep

March 08, 2019 | Men's Track & Field

Senior becomes national champion for the second time during the 2018-19 season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Three months after winning the NCAA cross country title in Madison, Wisconsin men's track and field's Morgan McDonald was back to his winning ways on Friday as the senior won the 5000 meters at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

McDonald crossed the line in a facility-record time of 13 minutes, 41.76 seconds to win his second national title of the 2018-19 season and to help UW become the first program to win the men's and women's 5000 meters at the same NCAA indoor meet.

"It feels awesome," said McDonald on completing the 5,000 meters sweep with teammate Alicia Monson. "I feel like Alicia always wins races before me and I get to watch it and I get inspired each time I watch her race. She is very talented."

The Sydney, Australia, native was in the middle of the pack early on in the race, waiting for his moment to strike. That opportunity came with about 3K to go, as McDonald stayed between the pack leader Amon Kemboi of Campell and Joe Klecker of Colorado. With just two laps to go, Kemboi faltered and McDonald made his move.

The senior showed off his famous kick in the final 200 meters, running the last lap in a blistering 26.48 to win the national title.

McDonald become the first Badger since Chris Solinsky in 2007 to win the NCAA indoor 5000 meters. Solinsky's win in 2007 helped UW become the first Big Ten team to win the NCAA indoor national team title, a feat that this year's team looks to repeat as UW ended the first day of competition in second place with 12 points.

"I think the position we are in, we just feel lucky to be here and we're just trying to make the most of it," said McDonald. "I'm not feeling the pressure too bad as long as I take care of what I need to take care of and give it my best, I'll be happy. If I get 20 team points or I don't get 20 team points, I'm just going to do my best"

UW also picked up two team points in the distance medley relay as the quartet of Olli Hoare, Ryan Dundun, Eric Brown and Olin Hacker finished in 9:34.74 to place seventh. The squad also picked up first-team All-America honors for their top-eight finish. It also marked the second-straight year UW has earned a top-eight finish in the relay event.

In the preliminary heat of the men's mile, junior Olli Hoare posted the second-fastest qualifying time to advance to Saturday's finals. Hoare came through with a time of 4:06.76 to secure his spot to become a national title contender.

In the first day of the heptathlon, Zach Lorbeck and Trent Nytes had impressive showings, with both Badgers sitting in the top-eight after the first day of competition. Nytes currently sits in third place in the overall standings with 3,354 points and Lorbeck checks in at eighth overall with 3,264 points.

Nytes opened things up with a time of 7.14 in the 60 meter dash and went on to earn a season-best mark in the long jump with a jump of 23-4 3/4. Next, the senior earned another season-best mark, this time in the shot put, with a mark of 44-7. The Kaukauna, Wisconsin, native rounded out the first day of heptathlon competition with a huge performance in the high jump, setting a personal best and the CrossPlex facility record in the heptathlon high jump, clearing the bar set at 7-1 1/4. That performance earned Nytes 973 points to rocket him into third place in the overall standings.

Lorbeck came out hot, taking third in the 60 meters with a personal best time of 6.92 to start the day. The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native went on to record a mark of 23-0 1/2 in the long jump and then took fourth in the shot put with a toss measuring 46-1 1/2. Lorbeck finished out the day with an eighth-place showing in the high jump, clearing a height of 6-6 3/4.

"In the space of 30 minutes we had two national champions crowned, so I'd say, that's a very special day," said Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Mick Byrne. "Alicia and Morgan both ran with tremendous confidence and poise. Trent Nytes literally jumped himself into third place after day one of the heptathlon with a fantastic high jump performance and Zach Lorbeck is sitting in eighth. Our women's DMR team finished ninth without Alicia Monson as the anchor and our men's DMR finished seventh, adding two points to our team score. There's only so much we can ask our athletes to do at this level, and overall, I'm happy with today's results."

The Badgers will return to the CrossPlex facility for the second day of the NCAA Indoor Championships. Action starts Saturday at 11:45 a.m. (CT) with the heptathlon 60 meter hurdles.

NCAA Indoor Championships
Birmingham, Alabama
Friday, March 8

Mile (Preliminary Heat)
2. Olli Hoare – 4:06.76

5000 Meters
1. Morgan McDonald - 13:41.76

Distance Medley Relay
7. Hoare, Dundun, Brown, Hacker - 9:34.74

Heptathlon (Day 1)
3. Trent Nytes - 3,354 points
8. Zach Lorbeck – 3,264 points

Heptathlon Long Jump
10. Trent Nytes – 23-4 3/4 (7.13m)
11. Zach Lorbeck – 23-0 1/2 (7.02m)

Heptathlon Shot Put
4. Zach Lorbeck – 46-1 1/2 (14.06m)
11. Trent Nytes – 44-7 (13.59)

Heptathlon High Jump
1. Trent Nytes – 7-1 3/4 (2.18m)
8. Zach Lorbeck – 6-6 3/4 (2.00m)

Heptathlon 60 Meters
3. Zach Lorbeck – 6.92
14. Trent Nytes – 7.14

Heptathlon Long Jump
10. Trent Nytes – 23-4 3/4 (7.13m)
11. Zach Lorbeck – 23-0 1/2 (7.02m)

Heptathlon Shot Put
4. Zach Lorbeck – 46-1 1/2 (14.06m)
11. Trent Nytes – 44-7 (13.59)

Heptathlon High Jump
1. Trent Nytes – 7-1 3/4 (2.18m)
8. Zach Lorbeck – 6-6 3/4 (2.00m)