# Morgan McDonald

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. 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 1 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 Conference Cross country | NCAA Cross country | Big Ten Conference Indoor Track | NCAA Indoor Track | Big Ten Conference Outdoor Track | NCAA Outdoor Track |
| 2018-19 | 23:26.4 - 1st | 10K - 29:08.3 - 1st | 5K - 13:37.85 - 1st | 3K - 7:52.85 - 1st 5K - 13:41.76 - 1st | 10K - 29:26.06 - 1st | 5K - 14:06.01 - 1st |
| 2018-19 | 23:26.4 - 1st | 10K - 29:08.3 - 1st | 5K - 13:37.85 - 1st | Distance Medley Relay - 9:34.74 - 7th | 10K - 29:26.06 - 1st | 5K - 14:06.01 - 1st |
| 2017-18 | | | | | 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 | |
| 2016-17 | 8K - 24:35.7 - 1st | 10K - 29:59.2 - 7th | 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 - 5th |
| 2015-16 | 8K - 23:30.0 - 5th | | 3000 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. 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. 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

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Summer Olympics ||||||
| 2021 | 2020 Tokyo Olympics | Tokyo, Japan | 17th place | 5000 metres | 13:37.36 |
| 2024 | 2024 Paris Olympics | Paris, France | 9th (heat) | 5000 m | 13:52.67 |
| World Athletics Road Running Championships ||||||
| 2023 | World Athletics Road Running Championships | Riga, Latvia | 7th place | 5 km | 13:26 NR |
| World Athletics Track Championships ||||||
| 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 32nd place | 5000 metres | 13:43.58 |
| 2019 | 2019 World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 17th place | 5000 metres | 13:26.80 |
| 2017 | 2017 World Championships | London Stadium | 20th place | 5000 metres | 13:30.73 |
| 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships | Hayward Field | 10th place | 5000 metres | 14:10.08 |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships ||||||
| 2015 | 2015 World Cross Championships | Guiyang | Team 19th place | Australia Men U20 | 353 points |
| 2015 | 2015 World Cross Championships | Guiyang | 40th place | 8000 metres | 25:56 |
| 2013 | 2013 World Cross Championships | Bydgoszcz | Team 8th place | Australia Men U20 | 171 points |
| 2013 | 2013 World Cross Championships | Bydgoszcz | 33rd place | 8000 metres | 23:21 |
| Commonwealth Games ||||||
| 2018 | Athletics at the 2018 Commonwealth Games | Carrara Stadium | 8th place | 5000 metres | 14:11.37 |
| Australian Athletics Championships ||||||
| 2018 | Australian Athletics Championships | Carrara Stadium | 1st place | 5000 metres | 13:19.05 |
| 2014 | Australian Athletics Championships U 20 | Sydney Olympic Park | 1st place | 5000 metres | 14:34.41 |
| 2014 | Australian Athletics Championships U 20 | Sydney Olympic Park | 1st place | 1500 metres | 3:58.83 |