Morgan McDonald (born 23 April 1996) is an Australian distance runner. McDonald is a two-time Olympian who competed at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
McDonald contested the 5000 metres at the 2020 Olympics, 2024 Olympics, 2017 World Championships, and 2019 World Championships. McDonald also competed in 2018 Commonwealth Games and placed 8th in 5000 meters in 14:11.37.
As a collegiate athlete, McDonald won four NCAA titles and eight Big Ten Conference and was an eight-time NCAA Division I All-American.
Early life McDonald attended Newington College in Sydney, Australia, completing his schooling in 2013.Prior to high school, he attended Randwick Public School with Oliver Close. Alumni News Retrieved 11 April 2019. He was a key member in Newington's 2011 GPS Senior Cross Country and 2012 Senior Athletics premierships. He won Newington's A.D.G. Stewart Trophy for 3000m running.
In addition to his athletic achievements at Newington College, Morgan excelled in the classroom. He finished with an ATAR of 98.95, achieving a Band 6 (>90% raw mark) in three subjects: Ancient History, English Extension 1 and Physics.
Prep McDonald won the 2007 Australian U12 National Cross Country Championship.
McDonald won the 2009 Australian U14 National Cross Country Championship.
McDonald won the 2011 Australian U16 National Cross Country Championship.
McDonald was the 2012 U18 Australian National 3000 meters Champion.
McDonald won the 2012 Australian U18 National Cross Country Championship.
McDonald won the 2013 Australian U18 National Cross Country Championship.
McDonald represented Australia in the 2013 World Junior Cross Country Championship in the U20 division at the age of 16 in Bydgoszcz, Poland and again in 2015 in Guiyang, China at the age of 18.
McDonald ran in the 2014 Australian Nationals in the 5000 meters for the U20 division.
McDonald won the 2018 Australian National 5000m in 2018, in a time of 13.19.05 (a record for the National championship).
McDonald competed and finished 10th in the 5000 meters in the U20 division at the 2014 World Junior Athletics Championships in Hayward Field, Eugene.
NCAA McDonald is a 4-time NCAA Champion, 8-time NCAA Division I All-American Wisconsin Badger distance runner. Morgan McDonald won 10 km in 29:08.3 at the 2018 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships leading the Wisconsin Badgers men's cross country to an 8th-place team finish. Representing University of Wisconsin School Year Big Ten ConferenceCross country NCAACross country Big Ten ConferenceIndoor Track NCAAIndoor Track Big Ten ConferenceOutdoor Track NCAAOutdoor Track2018-19 23:26.4 - 1st 10K - 29:08.3 - 1st 5K - 13:37.85 - 1st 3K - 7:52.85 - 1st5K - 13:41.76 - 1st 10K - 29:26.06 - 1st 5K - 14:06.01 - 1st Distance Medley Relay - 9:34.74 - 7th2017-18 5000 m - 14:47.93 - 10th 2016-17 8K - 24:35.7 - 1st 10K - 29:59.2 - 7th 5000 m - 14:04.44 - 1st 5000 m - 14:14.43 - 1st 3000 m - 8:12.58 - 1st 2015-16 8K - 23:30.0 - 5th 5000 m - 14:01.23 - 2nd 3000 m - 8:12.92 - 12th 1500 3:46.37 3rd 5000 m - 13:29.79 - 5th3000 m - 8:03.83 - 1st 2014-15 8K - 23:56.3 - 12th 10K 31:19.3 75th 3000 m - 8:11.67 - 2nd
Professional career In July 2019, McDonald signed with Under Armour.Under Armour signs top NCAA distance runner to endorsement Baltimoresun.com After a period continuing to train under Wisconsin head coach Mick Byrne, McDonald relocated to Boulder, CO, where he trained under Joe Bosshard until June 2021, when he left Under Armour and Bosshard and signed with the On Athletics Club.Episode 330: Morgan McDonald – I'll have another with lindsey hein I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein podcast In 2021, McDonald represented Australia in the 5000m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where he failed to advance from the qualifying heats.
In both 2022 and 2023, McDonald sustained injuries that resulted in abbreviated outdoor seasons. After being knocked out in the qualifying heats of the 5000 m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, McDonald ran a personal best in the 3000 m (7:35.78) and placed seventh in the 5000 m at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships.
McDonald launched his Olympics campaign in early 2024, running a 13:07.30 5000m indoors at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic. At his first Australian Athletics Championship since 2018, McDonald was narrowly outleaned for the victory in the 5000 m and finished just 0.05 seconds behind the winner, Matthew Ramsden. In May 2024, McDonald ran a personal best in the 5000 m at the USATF LA Grand Prix in 13:00.48, achieving the Olympic standard in the process. At the 2024 Summer Olympics he ran the 5000 m in 13:52 finishing 9th in his qualifying heat and did not advance to the final.
In January 2025, McDonald ran his debut half marathon in Houston in a time of 1:00:58, the fourth fastest time by an Australian.
Representing Australia Summer Olympics20212020 Tokyo OlympicsTokyo, Japan17th place5000 metres13:37.3620242024 Paris OlympicsParis, France9th (heat)5000 m13:52.67World Athletics Road Running Championships2023World Athletics Road Running ChampionshipsRiga, Latvia7th place5 km13:26 NR World Athletics Track Championships20232023 World ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary32nd place5000 metres13:43.582023 World Athletics Championships – Men's 5000 metres prelim results World Athletics20192019 World ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar17th place5000 metres13:26.8020172017 World ChampionshipsLondon Stadium20th place5000 metres13:30.7320142014 IAAF World Junior ChampionshipsHayward Field10th place5000 metres14:10.08 IAAF World Cross Country Championships20152015 World Cross ChampionshipsGuiyangTeam 19th placeAustralia Men U20353 points40th place8000 metres25:5620132013 World Cross ChampionshipsBydgoszczTeam 8th placeAustralia Men U20171 points33rd place8000 metres23:21 Commonwealth Games2018Athletics at the 2018 Commonwealth GamesCarrara Stadium8th place5000 metres14:11.37 Australian Athletics Championships2024Australian Athletics ChampionshipsSA Athletics Stadium2nd place5000 metres13:39.662018Australian Athletics ChampionshipsCarrara Stadium1st place5000 metres13:19.052014Australian Athletics Championships U 20Sydney Olympic Park1st place5000 metres14:34.411st place1500 metres3:58.83
References
External links Morgan McDonald at University of Wisconsin Morgan McDonald at Australian Athletics Morgan McDonald at Australian Athletics Historical Results