AUSTIN, Texas — In his final race for the Cardinal and White, Wisconsin senior
Morgan McDonald made a statement by winning the 5000 meters at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
The senior captain crossed the line in 14 minutes, 6.01 seconds, to become only the third man in NCAA history to win the cross country, indoor 3000 meters, indoor 5000 meters and outdoor 5000 meters championships in the same season, joining Oregon's Edward Cheserek (2015-16) and Galen Rupp (2008-09).
"It's hard to put into words," McDonald said. "I've been looking forward to this one for so long, and I've been at home for the last two, and I've been watching, being like, 'I think I can win that.' It's been frustrating. This one's been and on my mind for so long, and it's just amazing. There's always the goal, but I didn't know I was really going to get here, so I was really nervous for this one, so to have it done, to know it could happen."
"Tonight Morgan closed out his Badger career and right now it is difficult to put what he has achieved into perspective," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
Mick Byrne said. "He just completed a historical year that puts his name up there with two of the very best in NCAA distance running history, Edward Cheserek and Galen Rupp."
The Sydney, Australia, native uncorked a final lap of 52.9 seconds to sprint past Stanford's Grant Fisher to claim Wisconsin's first NCAA outdoor 5K title since Chris Solinsky in 2007. In addition, his victory helped the Badgers to an 18th-place finish at the national championships, the best showing by a Big Ten Conference school at this year's outdoor meet.
"Morgan's performance was next level," Byrne said. "The manner in which he controlled the race with five laps remaining and the devastating 52.9 last 400 meters was beyond words. Just 10 days ago, Morgan did a hill session up on Shorewood and after that workout I told him the only person who can beat him at the NCAA level is himself."
"The way I operate, I don't think about times too much," McDonald said. "I don't go into a race think I could put a 52 (second lap). I go into a race thinking I could beat everyone."
McDonald was near the front of the pack for almost the entire race after settling into second behind Liberty's Azaria Kirwa. He made his move to the front with just over four laps to go and pushed the pace of the 24-man race.
"It was interesting," McDonald said about being toward the front early. "I haven't really done that before. I was a bit nervous, but Mick (Byrne) told me if it was super slow I could move to the front and feel it out and that's the way it played out.
"I was trying to position myself well, and the way it played out I felt good. I knew once I was at the front that no one wants to pass me really until the very end."
Fisher passed McDonald for the lead entering the final lap, but the Badger made his final move down the homestretch to capture the national crown. It marked the third time this year that McDonald and Fisher finished 1-2 in a national championship race.
"I've raced Grant so many times," McDonald said. "I thought that he might fight pretty hard for the lead before the last 100, because at Melrose that's how he beat me, and then at indoors, I had the lead and he wasn't able to pass me, so I thought in his mind it was going to be a big thing to make sure he had the lead at 400 or 300.
"I love competing against him. It's what gets me up for these races. It's so good for us and for the fans. Everyone knows that every time we race it's going to be something special. It's something the sport needs."
McDonald became only the third Badger to win four NCAA titles in a single season, joining women's greats Suzy Favor (1989) and Claire Eichner (1993). He leaves Wisconsin as a four-time NCAA champion, a six-time first-team All-American and an eight-time Big Ten individual champion. He also led UW to three Big Ten team titles in men's cross country.
"Being a Badger has meant everything to me," McDonald said. "I love Wisconsin, I love everything it's given to me. I love the people. I have a lot of pride and it means everything to me."
In the men's 1500 meters, junior
Olli Hoare finished fourth in 3:42.29, to collect his fourth first-team All-America honor of the 2018-19 season and the seventh of his career.
"As the defending champion in the 1500 meters, Olli had a huge target on his back all season long," Byrne said "This meet is second to none and the performances here this week speak to that. Olli executed the race plan I drew up, and just didn't have the legs over the last 100 meters. He's disappointed, but I'm confident he'll bounce back and run well over the summer."
The Sydney, Australia, native held the lead at the midway point before sliding into second heading into the bell lap. Hoare got boxed in over the final 200 meters and ultimately finished fourth.
"I wanted to make it an honest race," Hoare said. "If you make it honest, there were a handful of boys that could retaliate. In my head, it was a good idea. Looking back, I think I put myself in a position that made me vulnerable in the race.
"It's a learning experience, I have another year to develop and I am very grateful for this experience to be in this final. Sometimes you want to refresh and to start thinking about the next one."
The finish capped an outstanding season for Hoare, who finished 17th at the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships, third in the mile at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships and ran a leg on UW's distance medley relay that placed seventh indoors.
In addition, Hoare was named Great Lakes Track Athlete of the Year for the indoor and outdoor track seasons by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
"It was an incredible season," Hoare said. "I didn't think I would be in this position. It's pretty crazy and I get to experience the competition of the NCAA and to be an All-American. I'm always going to be chasing national titles. I have three different sections to do that. I have a lot to learn from this and it's exciting to see what I do as a senior."
The UW men finished in a tie for 18th place with 16 points.
Up Next
Alissa Niggemann will wrap things up for Wisconsin at the NCAA championships on Saturday when the Big Ten women's steeplechase champion races in the final at 5:54 p.m. live on ESPN2.
2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
June 7, 2019
Austin, Texas
1500 Meters
4.
Olli Hoare – 3:42.29
5000 Meters
1.
Morgan McDonald – 14:06.01
