2018 NCAA Cross Country Championship | FULL DI men's race

the Wisconsin Badgers and coach McBurney miked up there earlier this season we're actually joined in the booth with a with an alum of the program and team champs back in 2011 MOA med but you were saying you saw that video and it just was bringing back memories of of Mick Yellin at you I yeah yeah no I definitely you know hearing that that accent that terrible New York you know Irish accent so ya know it definitely brought some memories so cool well we're getting ready for the men's race you know after seeing an unbelievable women's race where Colorado won the individual and team title first time they've done that in 18 years and not a feed many teams often accomplished so congrats to Danny Jones for the individual title coach Wetmore and all the ladies out there dominating we saw Joe Franklin after the race he he was super excited with the team's performance said he scored it a bunch of different ways where they'd be around a hundred and just still potentially win they scored a hundred but Colorado just walked too much today but as we look ahead to the men's race another great race shaping up and we'll first look at the individuals grand Fisher a guy who didn't make the move last year to go with the leaders and has been thinking about that for the last 365 days he wants to win that title last race for for Stanford in cross country and Morgan MacDonald also at his home home course here mo he's definitely a favorite in front of the any of you guys right now he's got to hold them off yeah he definitely has to and in order for the team to do really well he needs to show up you know grant Fisher incredible high school career he was a phenom he's essentially the Anointed One he you know he won an outdoor 5000 meter as a sophomore and last year was held back and you know I think he's a senior so this is his last chance as well so this is a Clash of the Titans and yeah this is this is going to be an exciting one for seniors going out had to had very exciting they're gonna be very good when Edwin Kerr got from Iowa stayed in there he was in Tennessee Tennessee Martinsville I think last year American but Gordon when we looked six through ten some other good names in there that could be up in that top five potentially yeah everyone's thinking NAU Baxter's McDonald's Fisher's but he got look at the right side of your screen he got James Segura who come in as a sophomore he actually might be a redshirt freshman now a piece in Kentucky from Rwanda or he is running 13 46 5k prior to coming over to the state so he has some speed Nick Hager represented Portland pilots a sleeper team he's running well and then Peter super he's the one guy here without a team with him Virginia Tech he qualified as an individual Peter Suber should be interesting to see the junior Erin Templeton also an individual look out and then Connor McMillan trying to crack that top ten for the BYU Cougars some big big results so as we look at the teams the top six here NAU trying to win their third consecutive title and cement their name they're in the record books it's been since they Arkansas men from 98 to 2000 that have gone three in a row so can they do it BYU wants to come back after disappointing third last year to to prove them wrong the pilots from Portland there they were second a year ago they're still in the hunt for a podium spot Stanford Wisconsin who didn't qualify for this meet mo Iowa State but you know Wisco at home big crowd we saw it and talked to a few people after that race they said the crowd is unbelievable today it's got to help Wisconsin's awesome it's you know Madison and this area is a very active environment and a lot of people run and bike and so you know people were big on this and I think they promoted it really well so it's good to see a good turnout out there and you know it's gonna be a great team and individual titles and the fact that yeah the fact that you know the team the team title the team titles is dependent on you know the individuals doing really well it's gonna create a really good matchup I think you always have to when you're a favorite to win a title you have to toe a fine line and kind of sometimes be conservative so certain damn but I think in this in this situation they're gonna they're gonna go for it and you know Baxter and day and you know all those guys cool going for it that's what they're doing right now this race is off the 2018 men's n-c-double-a division 1 cross-country championship is underway that white carpet of snow a little less than it was for the women's race now that we've had a few folks running over this course 250 plus men out there trying to produce some big results for their teams for their schools and you know mowing the booth with us along with Gordon we also joined again with abby cooper formerly abby D'Agostino for those that don't know you know Abby where we just saw that great women's race what are you excited most about in this men's race I'm excited to see what NAU does here you know it sounds like even that Baxter was saying in the press conference yesterday that there that we're in for maybe a surprise about how you know tactically they present themselves so we'll find out shortly how that unfolds so definitely excited look like the crowds out there today great course for these spectators as tons of people are out and as Moe mentioned a lot relatively local to the area the the history is rich in cross country at Wisconsin they mentioned earlier today here at the course over 50 times the Badgers have been at this championship event and up front you see right in the middle Morgan McDonald not leaving it to chance that's for sure putting himself in position you have Colorado up there and hey looks like mr. day and mr. Baxter maybe even mr. lamagno vene you Gordon yes so des Baxter up there MacDonald though looks like he wants to control this race away because he knows what day in Baxter do he's seen them do it too twice in a row the past two championships and now he was to make sure he can outsmart their tactics here in this on his home course you know the women's race went out a little conservative when you compare it to what what the women ran at this course the previous two times earlier in the season and you know Abby we saw that that left the door open for Danny Jones to take down the favorite their weenie colotti so conservatives start here in the men's race maybe yeah par for the course for the men you know it just I've watched so many track track and cross-country races where they're just there they're just out for a jog until it really really starts so yeah you know the women do don't do that quite as often so it was interesting to see how that mixed things up a little bit today you see the course map there's they're going down that long straightaway through the first half mile into that that curve and mow any any parts of this course you particularly remember from workouts or racing that you know our key points for you definitely the hills at 2k they're gonna start climbing up there's a there is a little bit of a climb a K and a little bit of a downhill as well so at that point if you didn't really have a good start that's where you probably should be trying to make moves the course opens up a little bit in a 2k you know that that Hill you better be in a good contention and I think people are going to start pushing it and there's multiple Hills so that's gonna take an effect so up front Tyler day Matt Baxter some some light jabs thrown yesterday when we're talking about the home home-field advantage for Wisconsin Matt Baxter I'd say a friend in a friendly way said you know I think what sconce is going to need that I love it it's good it's you know that's the thing like I think NAU comes off as very confident and a bunch and you know for you know Morgan and grant fishers and the teams with BYU Wisconsin Stanford you know in Portland well you know if they don't like those guys talking smack you know you gotta you gotta you got to put a lid on that so got to shut him up that's the only way you see the past champions Edward Chaz Rex name on there three times Pat Tiernan dethroned him that fourth year and then Justin night last year cesare out there today watching this race he worked out on the course yesterday we got to see him out there but the Colorado women we just saw them run and unbelievable run and two were there guys it looks like Dressel and clicker up front there for the Buffalo they're trying to maybe show some magic here in the men's race yeah I think that's actually Ryan Forsythe actually and and wrestle up there so you actually have three buffaloes in that front group of ten so getting some inspiration from the ladies team taking that win and putting themselves in position putting three in the top ten just like Anna you put in there three in the top ten so all right off to a good start earlier yeah it's a man I mean seeing the women you know Colorado women come out here and perform sometimes you know outperform their expectations and you know you see the you know the Buffalo is out front early and you know the only thing I can think of is you know they've they've won a lot of titles in these sort of conditions in the mush and the mess so they love it and it's good to see them you know bring it so yeah so you're in that back wooded area coming down that slight downhill and you're gonna be coming into the 2k mark and not too long so we have you know looking back at the results from earlier this year at the nutty comb Invitational late September Morgan McDonald won that race and 23-17 first 2k and again that was an 8k course but first 2k just as a comparison 553 and that was the fastest 8k that anyone had run this year at at this Wisconsin course so we'll keep that in mind 553 so these guys are i'd say going out at a pretty pretty solid pace as we go through 2k and we start seeing some splits here and it looks like unofficially Northern Arizona in the number one spot 72 points so 46 points ahead of Portland now who's in number 2 118 Colorado men are in third 129 Stanford men fourth 149 Washington men with new coach Andy Powell in one in fifth and 160 BYU 185 so and then back in seventh is Wisconsin 289 so a little bit of a gap for Wisconsin there but man Gordon that's a that's a tight battle right now really between two through six yeah and you look at NAU they have their top six all in the top 32 which is what they need because you want to have you want to have six chambers in the in the gun you don't want to only be having a strong fight it could have a strong six and that's what NAU has but Portland also is looking good they have their top five all in the top 43 so Portland's keeping their guys in the mix early you want to have your whole team in that top 50 at the 2k mark to make sure you're still in good position heading into the middle part of the race so a little surge being made there out front and we'll get a read on on who that is here in a moment but again Colorado is sitting pretty good for them inside it looks like Connor mans of BYU up there man and and Matt's a young a young guy on the BYU team but his coach said he's got one gear high gear and I don't like to tell him to change it because that's where he derives his passion from and racing so this is Zach same thing at pre Nationals he went for it and everyone was like man hey what are you doing but he was able to hold on and still finish in the top five so maybe you say hey if ain't broke don't try to fix it so Connor man is going to the lead a you know when you see a move this is a 10k we're not even ten minutes in what do you what do you think about moves like this you kind of you can't really take it too serious just because of you know how early it is but you got to keep an eye on it and you know I think all the favorites are already in good position and they're keeping an eye on it and if it if if that gap gets bigger you know they'll definitely bridge the gap so yeah yeah it really just it depends on who it is you know you got to know if if you know your skillset lies in just having that that consistent strength and you can withstand that pace you know over the course of several K then then that's fine but if it's sort of a no-name you know maybe maybe a younger runner who just got a little bit excited obviously you exact some more in there so Connor Manta you know we know his name he say you know and I'd say top 28 25 rank coming into this but I think the biggest thing that that just did right there is it strung out the field a little bit it's kind of lightened up the the pack there and may be helpful for some of the teams as they start working their three four or five runners actually up through the field here as you see we're going back into our second loop of this 10k course you know the interest is see where the team team standings stack up at four K as we talked you know mo you said this you know it's all about positioning at five K to really know where you are in that team battle and 4.1 K is can be the closest marker we can get to see where they are at the halfway point but they'll be interesting who the cream of the crop are at the four K mark I do want to point out we haven't mentioned him yet but grant Fisher sitting in about eighth place about three four spots just ahead of Morgan MacDonald and it was kind of a great anecdote there in the press conference how it Morgan MacDonald and grant future hasn't have not raced for two years and it was at this meet two years ago where they actually ran together for a good portion of it and Morgan MacDonald kind of toad grant Fisher long grant Fisher ended about kicking him finishing fifth MacDonald was that was in seventh so they they have they have some some experience racing against and with each other so as you see our past team champions - from NAU leading up front and showing big reason why they were the past two champions here in 2017 2016 he had that great Syracuse team and then Colorado the back-to-back years in 13 and 14 so it's kind of Vance there huh it's all business I do notice I mean obviously Mane's of the redshirt freshman the charge by Ducey SIU Rodriguez and George cush two of the the freshmen were keep an eye out and these freshmen are going for it putting themselves in that top-tier group early on the race you saw Eve are you guys from Oklahoma State redshirt freshman and George push from South Africa from Nebraska he's been training in the brass because I'm serious there's weather here national cold Midwest that's awesome yeah I think you know the NAU boys out front move is uh expected pretty soon out here so most of the favorites better be getting getting ready for the Hat so we had at that we're gonna come up on 4k pretty soon you see the map going back through those that wooded area and they'll hit a little downhill as they come out of it but NAU had had six in the top thirty two Lewis revolver was there their six runner at that time Ryan Raph they're their seventh aways back but so six all-americans in position at 2k you know we saw in New Mexico and the women's side had three in the top ten you say how do you beat that well Colorado had six in the top 30 so that's that shows you how how important that that tight pack is and also obviously having that Matt and that low stick up front and Danny Jones is that for for the Buffalo so and I'm itching to find out what this porque split as I see they're about to cross that path momentarily here they're hitting the blue cart the blue split timer this is gonna be four point one case split but the team standings are gonna shake up here after we see where they are at the four point one K so the pace slowed up just a slight bit as they come through in about 12 minutes over for K and unofficially northern Arizona still in the lead as you see there's the splits at 4k with Manset right at 12 minutes along with the number of runners look at that you see 1202 back to the 16th place so still a tight pack in that top 25 but NAU unofficially at 52 points to Portland's 122 so that lead for NAU continues to grow as they still have six in the top 31 and four or five in the top 20 so right now looking very strong there you go 50 points NAU 122 for Portland bYU has moved up three spots they're at 149 Stanford has stuck at that fourth position Colorado has now dropped back to fifth Washington six Iowa State seven Wisconsin in eighth and rounding out the top ten Notre Dame in nine and Colorado State so Gordon any you I mean is there any chance to make that up I mean Portland's actually in pretty good position they have six in the top 60 right now yeah and if you look at Portland right now their places are 22 23 24 36 43 and it's a six second gap between them you know we know NAU is going to do but if you look at any use for five and I use for five right now are 1202 and 1202 so ni use for five are basically where Portland's one two three are and I think if Portland can move up and expect NAU to drop a bit I mean it's a hundred point lead right now but that can cut it out very quickly in the final 3k but right now NAU where we thought they would be in control with a heavy lead going into the half way point and you know in that last split between the top six runners Frannie you was only four less than four seconds and that was it through the top 31 runners in this race you see now that's dwindled down that lead pack to about 15 16 17 and now a gap starting to form so you know guys this is this where we is we see the contenders in this pack I'm at this point yeah absolutely and I'm actually I was gonna throw it back to moe and say when do you know typically when does this start to be shaken a little bit I think 6 7 K and 8 K is where the biggest move is made I think right now they're just gearing up for you know that point of up to 8 8 K so right now you know small jabs are being taken at each other and they're just being uh those are little bit bigger Tim both maybe both yeah yeah I think it's you know we'll see we'll see what happens there is a lot of NAU still in your picture up front I can see pretty much that top five top six all still right there so NAU it's going to be tough to beat them it'll be really really interesting to see how Portland is moved that's by 6k because they're in great position but man it's really going to be tough to take down as any of you guys and it's so rare to find a team that has the glow sticks up front and those low sticks are actually most of the team hey everyone's like oh we have one or two low sets who have a chance and he's like well you have a chance when you have six remember some Stanford teams back in the early 2000s with Hall and Dobson and those guys very similar it's just so tough to be as it's Colorado nau being the way used to in Kentucky in their Stanford yet to flare out there make a Stephen Ryan in trying to stay with warm yeah as you can see the guys coming back down around where the buses are this is when they actually run parallel with the start line but they're gonna be running basically behind our booth and so this is a long uphill no what was your experience running up this back part of the course up this back home yeah I think still here you know this this Hill is gonna take a little bit of a little bit out of you but you just have to just just dig in grind a little bit and get to the good to the bottom but I'll get to the top of it and there'll be a pretty much straightaway right there so yeah I don't think it's a super super hard Hill but it's a little bit of a gut punch er so some good running right now from you got Eastern Kentucky and Virginia Tech that's Peter Suber from Virginia Tech and James Segura from Eastern Kentucky I know our man Kevin Sully's big on sukira he said watch out for him so definitely showing that silly knows his stuff right now as mance is still up front now for BYU he was it looked like he kind of took a little breather for second now back at the front of that pack the others not like what Joe Cluckers doing you know we did not expect to see all these buffaloes up front but clucker he's one 1330 he redshirted the outdoor season last year ran and he is a gamer he had a he was supposed to finish in the top twenty last year had a bad race finishing two sixties but he is a top-ten competitor and he's put himself in the mix here at the 6k point yeah and you see 6k coming through 1734 clacker was the first across that line with tyler day and so day leading for Northern Arizona grow revolver has moved up from their sixth guy to their second guy and Baxter now just about two seconds back from from Daiso a little bit of gap they're forming and you see actually Baxter in the back of that field so not even that he's relaxed behind de he's actually starting to fade a little bit so we'll keep an eye on that so 62 points unofficially for Northern Arizona Portland at 133 so similar gap to what we saw last time 71 points separate them but moving up big right now is BYU who's tied with Portland in that number two spots so they have all seven guys in the top 65 and their top five third through 48th right now oh we got a fall whoa as a coach I believe so Connor mans leading BYU in the third position at that 6k split and then back to Rory Linkletter in 31st right there with Connor macmillan so they're gonna obviously need to move up there for BYU and then fourth right now on that podium spot Stanford just about 24 points in front of Colorado 154 to 178 now I know you said you got to talk about this Baxter falling off this front group I always think of Baxter and day would be side by side at this entire race but the fact that he's falling off this front group is a big time for NAU yeah Baxter was my pick man I'm falling apart right now you know mo I gotta ask you know that with most of the team for NAU up there they know Baxter's falling off what do you think they're thinking right now and and how much more important is it for them to hold where they're at yeah they have to hold it together you know you see Colorado has - up in that pack Conner man is is pushing so BYU looks like they're employing a little bit of a you know the the NAU tactics in this so you have to finish as high as you can and I'm sure their coaches are out there like telling them you know somebody something happened with Baxter hopefully hopefully nothing too serious and he can hold it together for his team but you know those guys were in the pack you know the day and I'm not to be sure we're up you know lamang is but all those guys need to hold their position and move up in the latter stages of this race yeah Peter LeMond right now sitting in 22nd the 5th man for NAU so they go 1 16 17 19 22 and that was three minutes ago now so things have changed so things have shaped changed up just a little bit so but Morgan McDonald for Wisconsin one of the favorites individually is still there and just to his shoulder is grant Fisher and a lot of folks have talked about those two being the ones really going after this individual title they were on both of them were undefeated all season until they went to the regionals where they ran some conservative races to qualify here to the championship so that is definitely a battle a lot of folks are looking looking forward to myself personally that last 300 meters up that hill mo I'm looking to see what happens we saw a great one on that woman's side ya know that I tell you that that finishing straight is a is is a peculiar one because you got to go up a hill so it's very interesting to see what will develop I like Lisa Rodriguez a freshman from Oklahoma State Rodriguez the fact that he's still in this 21 minutes into the race he's a gamer again redshirt freshman took second to Edwin Kerr got multiple times not only in the outdoor track but big 12 cross and he's put himself in there absolutely Dave Smith you know one of the one of the best coaches in the entity double A's and you know they definitely had a dynasty there for a few years and they're looking to rebuild um and it looks like you know with ISA you know they're they're looking to be back competing here for a national title in a few years so it's good to see the young young fella fight out there so we're gonna be coming up to the 8k point in not too long and you know if we think back to what you said a few moments ago mo that's that final two K is really really make-or-break of this race we're moves are going to start being made and if anything's gonna change in the team in that team race that's that's where we're gonna see yeah yeah this is the biggest determinant of the of the whole race you know people are gonna people who are in that front pack we're feeling it you know they might pay for it and this is you know we're the sweepers you know Peter lamang what does he do he's I don't we said he was in twenty something something Oliver or you know what does he do for his team looks like Wisconsin is I don't know their third fourth guys are struggling a little bit but yeah this is where everything gets decided so you saw there a little bit of gaps forming for for NAU and Gordon I don't know if you noticed important we're Portland was in that yeah the Portland kids a little different kid had this this uh for this meet but I did see a few Portland guys moving up man you Levesque say the the Frenchmen who was top 15 last year has been moving up but when these 8k splits come in we're really going to know if na you had built a big enough lead to survive a falling back in the latter part of the race or a world team like Portland a BYU be able to catch him in the final two K well and I got to think that the the BYU guys that were around xxx are starting to see that NAU that are in about 22nd and saying wow there they are that's the finish line there so here we go we're crossing over the splits here we're gonna get him here in just a moment as MacDonald asserting himself up front next to clicker man still there you saw a grimace in his face and that last close-up shot we saw but Fisher a guy that hasn't hasn't put himself up front yet he's been sitting there comfortably I think he's doing a great job right now as being very patient and waiting to cover and move if it's made here in this final 2 K so right now we have nau unofficially 66 points BYU 117 now Portland's going back to 146 so still a good leader you know 60 points is still a lot for NAU to hold on to hey I'm gonna tell you NAU had a 70 point lead that lead is now dropped to 51 points so BYU is moving up I mentioned there the there guys were there second third fourth we're in the top 30 35 now they're 24 27 32 so I think Rory Linkletter playing it well here and trying to move up in these later stages and there you see unofficial scores but man this pack is broken away and we are our individual champ is going to come from this group of men here manse McDonald day you have clicker the freshman from Oklahoma State looks like Fisher you got a lot of kickers in their maker gots a great kicker Apple Chilean goes in there he's a he's a grinder from Alabama staining that top front group he's been a force he's all out it seems like the whole race and he's not giving up that lead so hey how about us doing a great job they have three in this top group guys and forgot in their Chilango man this is this is the who's who across country in 2018 they're all in it with the exception of really Baxter a lot of these guys some of the favorites we talked about throughout the week and earlier today and McDonald trying to be the guy to make this tough over the later stages you see des there comfortably on his shoulder just in front of Kerr got and you know man's man just fighting there to to stay with this group I love it absolutely and we saw the 8k split there 2330 that's not a slow time considering all these you know the condition of the course and you know I'm sure they're feeling it out there in singlet and it's it's cold out there so we're gonna see an exciting last 2k and we'll see how hard they push so I gotta ask what what is Morgan MacDonald's strength in this ratio your I gotta imagine you've talked to the to the Wisco camp what where did they feel he's strongest in this place I don't think he really has a you know weak link and he's uh in his toolbox I think he's a strong runner good 5k he's a three 55 or 56 mile er he has the kick he has the strength he knows the course really well and he's gonna I think you know mentally there's a lot of good athletes in this in this in this bunch of pack but I think he's expertise in the of the course should really pay dividends for him and everything he said he's a start he's definitely a stud so and he wants it he really wants it so he was leading there for a moment mance now back in the lead and man Abby this guy's he wants he wants he wants to stay up there I love that fight you can see he is starting to labor a little bit you know use some energy laterally were there with his arms but but it also shows the wanting there and and that's what you need and I see backs are there and that far back is you know he was falling off but if he can stay between these two packs there that'll be great for them because again they have a 60 point 50 point lead so facture can hold off this charge of people behind them they'll be good for anybody in the distance there you see in the headband Linkletter and behind him about five spots behind him two of his teammates so they're trying to move up they see where they need to be they see Baxter fading and they're trying to make up ground but up front we are at 27:30 so not a lot of time left less than three minutes of running here and this is where the final K it's all going to come down the freshmen from Oklahoma stayed in here Furman in the mix I love this fade back a little bit there Aaron Templeton a Furman lead watch out so McDonald they're just he he was up front there for a moment now it looks like he he's testing that testing the field a little bit letting these guys lead and he's just gonna stay in position fisher has not moved within that top five at all today he's letting everyone lead the pace make the moves and he is just waiting for that final straightaway I would say Fisher McDonald Kerr got even and even the freshman as he saw a Rodriguez all look very calm in their face so they're still just waiting to the final 200 250 meters and we're gonna make that turn here you saw Baxter there and is there these are their pack behind him where we saw Linkletter and those boys there's Oliver who are there's Linkletter right there revolver for NAU and here we go the final straightaway Morgan McDonald and it looks like grant Fisher trying to go and that's her got with them so McDonald the crowd is so loud here in Madison it's Morgan McDonald trying to win in front of a home crowd her guy trying to take him down Fisher trying to win his first title rule Morgan McDonald whole Andhra for Wisconsin here they come to the finish line fisher pushing him but here it comes Morgan McDonald's he in the lenient looks like he's going to hold on to it and win his first title at home McDonald taking the n-c-double-a title her got in second maybe it was Fisher and Robinson for Oklahoma State Berman's Templeton day for NAU what a race Colorado puts two look maybe they put green atop 11 for Colorado Wow and here you go chalenge go and watch the finishers come in where are the NAU boys and they inferred and you went six here's Matt Baxter they're coming into 15th so that's their second so na you got to Colorado so it's three but they're for five our way back watch out for BYU coming in there's Linkletter Portland's got to in here comes another from BYU and another from Portland any use revolver is in now any use got lamang another so Andy's got lamang and Faro NAU looks closed right now it's gonna be closer I think any you might take it BYU Portland there's more of them coming in Colorado's got another Boise State's got a few coming in or they're all in that was just so NAU puts their top five in the top 30 where is BYU where's Portland and there you go there's the times for the individuals you see them Morgan McDonald half a second over grand fissure a lot of folks thought grand fissure would be the guy to kick if it came down to it and win but McDonald with the crowd behind him NAU now as we look to the team it looks like it's still unofficial but it looks like it might be enough for NAU to secure the title 37 points so like yours they had 80 83 points just what they're gonna have eventually but I think NAU has defended the title and pulled off the three-peat here unofficially BYU it looks like they might have came up for second maybe within 30 or 40 points of NAU but it will not be enough as we wait as more of these finishes come in exciting race up front as we wait for the final team scores but while we wait for these team scores to shape up we're gonna talk with our winner from Wisconsin Morgan McDonald who's standing at the finish line with Kevin Sully Morgan that last straightaway was two years in the making walk me through it it hurt really bad but I knew that in my head off thinking I was on this so many times every session we're finishing by doing this straight so I was scared with all the guys around me but I knew that I had a pretty good shot was that pretty good kick so I spent for did you feel grant and Edwin on your shoulder at all I knew grant was there the whole time he's a very savvy smart racing I saw her got was not as well I knew he was gonna be a big danger man so I was kind of just trying to fill out those two you guys and trying to time my movie based on them was the plan and this just to wait in wait until you got to that very very familiar final straightaway yeah I mean it wasn't that specific as pretty much stay relaxed for as long as possible then well the time is right make the move that's all played out you've run 1315 for 5,000 you've represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games internationally where does this NC Double A title rank among your accomplishments this is the best no this is crazy all the fans out here I can't wait to celebrate with them I've been looking forward to this for a very long time so this is definitely my proudest moment you mentioned that you after you won naughty comb during the race because you'd been off for so long you had a little a few doubts about whether or not you'd have it in this race today over 10,000 with the footing being what it was and the weather did doubts ever creep in for you they did before the race earlier in the week I would say I was pretty nervous because the season had a couple of ups and downs I got sick midway through for about 10 days so I wasn't sure how that would affect me but these last couple of days I think the nerves really just turned into excitement and confidence having my team around me was just he just really helps well they tell me go to the start line this is still about enjoying the experience and it felt good you coach McLaren has been around for a while but you're his first ever individual champion how does that feel it's amazing I mean he's always say a great coach so he deserves it all surprised he didn't have one already to be honest but to be that first wants to do it for him because he's done so much for me it feels very special Congrats Morgan on a great run and great season guys back to you awesome finish there by Morgan McDonald the senior and man I gotta I gotta ask you mo you know that crowd was so loud we're here at the finish line you're hearing him talk about what that meant for Wisconsin from coach McBurney what's going through your mind there's got to be a lot of personal feelings there yeah no I'm definitely happy for Morgan and and Mick and you know I have like a personal relationship with Morgan you know he was one of the as I was leaving the the program he was one of the last guys that I that I hosted and on and recruited help recruit and try to sell him on Wisconsin so for him to you know to deliver a national title right here in front of a home crowd I he's such a nice guy and you know I'm happy for him and proud badger alum so yeah great moment for him yeah be one question for you he said he talked about some sickness and battling University to get to this point throughout a long season what how tough is that yeah oh my gosh you know I was just thinking about that I think it just goes to show that sometimes a little bit of adversity is what you need to really spark rekindle your motivation and help you remember why you're doing it and clearly that's exactly what it did in his case so it's really special to see it all come together at the right time and he's not the only one that came together for we're down again at the finish line with Kevin and the unofficial team champs the NAU team third in a row NAU three-peat a very emotional nau Tyler can you explain how the team is feeling right now early afterwards I thought like crap but then afterwards having everyone there together we actually just hold up and took it you're all my spike oh we we just kind of took a moment of silence put our heads together and just kind of like meditated for a little bit and so I'm feeling really good now when you woke up this morning and saw the snow what did you think people even playing field everyone has to deal with the snow to Lewis coming back again after a good freshman campaign you're right up there how'd it feel walking me through that race the last half from the top pag and uh I just knew like I had him in my position in LA and you want to pass me and just cuz I wasn't doing for myself if I was doing it for my brothers and yeah I just couldn't do it sorry super emotional out there we were working out all year and learn it known as Matt's last year and Tyler and it's nice ears it's probably the best moment of my life Matt I'll give you a second Matt with goryeo to Peter eight eight last year surprised this year you're surprising nobody based on how well you're running how do how does feel to go I back-to-back we're in another one and put three on the board for any of you back-to-back three times it's like mentally is the hardest thing ever so I'm so happy for these guys to be able to pull this out to pull this off and it's this please go down in history and I we did it yeah black stuff Matt work Matt go right Matt go get you for a sec is your dad okay Rob ed Baxter made the trip out for me Zeon so this was a very special day to share with my dad and with these boys how'd you feel out there obviously wasn't the individual race but when you started to fall off what kept you going what kept you from from dropping I mean horrible conditions out here very tough yeah so one of it was I talked a lot of crap beforehand so I kind of had to stay in with it because there but it did add I was thinking about the team the whole time I knew I it was a hard day out there I was I was heard him from pretty early on but I had to stick with it I to try and get you every single point for that team so that was there was what was in my mind the whole time did you have any doubts about the team at that point I I think I was still pretty confident I think I heard coach Hines when were coming into about a k2 go he gave me a and nod there we we head a bit of a lead at that stage so I knew I knew they were still gonna be a good chance that our team was in it but at their point or side to think that I was hurting excited to focus on every spot at that point and how's it feel how's your dad watched many of your races in college I say he would watch it on flow track definitely we had an account so even from the other side of the world what'd you guys do I could I gotta say I really appreciate flow tracking and being able to stream these events especially in New Zealand because I mean this is the first time my dad's been able to make it out to watch me run and for my last rates that's that's really special but he's also the same time being able to fall in my progress from the other side of the world so I really appreciate what you guys do and and helping make that pop possible so three in a row NAU oh let's let's get coach Smith over here before we do that here Louie Louie once you're coming back next year so some of these guys are graduating you're coming back what's in store for NAU in 2019 I mean we got a young recruiting class that's coming up we registered at Brody so four-minute mile later and tell you how good of this team this team was we didn't even need the top high school in the nation the top top got in his high school and they sure didn't even out here and uh we got a lot of good young guys and we're ready and we're fired up to come here come out here next year yeah very good but by the way before so in our tent we have a bunch of heaters in our in our tent area and that was too close to one my legs were too close to one and I caught on fire from my pants so editor Nets us know and just wipe it off clean so that's why you're feeling better yeah all right well try to get try to get coach Smith here in a second for a live interview coach Smith three-peat for NAU you talked in the press conference about the idea of the disease of Moore and Pat Riley and I'm guessing that's something that doesn't just affect athletes but also coaching staff as well wanting more how is this group able to pull it off and be the best of the three that you've had yeah I mean if the phenomenal athletes their their minds are just so so tuned into what this takes and they don't get distracted on the wrong things and I mean we got guys that you know that people talk could they win individual titles never heard that all season long it's only about team points we have some guys that yeah I probably could have finished higher on another scenario and only ran 14 points the only way we see this as a team race and I you could train legs the brains are a whole other thing though you know you know just that's the secret all this when Matt fell off were those nervous moments for you I would probably be nervous for other athletes besides Matt it's uh I just said to my staff as that was happening I said I said are you worried and I said that there was anyone else besides uh that's Matt Baxter and he's coached a lot of people is very few like him and he he could he could fall off like that and completely manage the situation I knew he would and that's exactly what he did we talked a lot in the pre-race about what any strategy was matt said we might have something different so I'm just curious what it was hard to decipher the plan for anybody today because the weather what was your guys's tactic coming in yes so we uh we we implement strategies that are just a maximize points it's better for certain style of racing for certain guys it's better for them to keep it aggressive we saw a lot of tactical races in the conference meet we saw tactical races at the regional meet we we did a lot of practicing about forcing and riding that line they're not when they when they reach the sort of that red line in the you know the middle of a race so don't panic at all we do a lot of practice on that and so Matt and Tyler knew to stay on it and the way we train we knew if we had a lead at half way we were going to be tough to tough to deal with in the second half they're not gonna fall off a cliff so that's what I did I you know be BYU Portland we're kind of making that move on the second part but it just seems like your groups impenetrable there was no way they were gonna fall out of the top thirty did you see it the same way yeah a couple these guys we made eye contact with different points in the race and you work with them every day so you read faces and 2k to go peals among just be having this big grin like blaze look at me and look like I started laughs and that's it I think it's if you could be calm in this heightened atmosphere you can access your your fitness and so many people that's you know man I wish I go back to my college or a career and I know that because it's that's that's really what gets in the way of a lot people doing this it's just it's just panic though they we train them to become under pressure and I give it to I give it to BYU and Portland those were but they were those guys were on the move and I think at one point with maybe the 70 point leader who's down to 15 so they're moving up well and I just know people hype on this rivalry BYU they are we owe them a lot because they hold us accountable every day and they're it's a phenomenal program phenomenal phenomenal athletes and they another example of pushing us to the very limits to there there's no way these guys would perform as they do without BYU one more and then I'll let you celebrate with your team usually championship teams you expect that euphoria but when they came over initially you saw a lot of Tears why do you think it was so emotional bringing tears to their eyes this year I just got a 90-pound yeah you know that um ooh I'm gonna try to talk about the steers you know to coach I mean anyone a coach doesn't to be NAU and anyone who coaches your your the privileges that you're on the inside of there day in and day Adam yeah you know I know I just know what some of these guys are working with and what they're going through and what they've overcome guy like blaze Ferro but you know he spent aslam at least I don't 50% in the last 3 years hurt and so he started has success this year he comes in the office he's like you know that it was scaring and he's so afraid something's gonna happen and if you run like that if you run without that fear of risks you know it's it's gonna be a barrier and so the vulnerability that takes up hay at any moment something could change and you're gonna risk it and the trust involved in that is just massive and so when his tears I think it's just technology and what he's overcome there and Matt Baxter's this last race for NAU and I think these have been a phenomenal leader for this team and I think he's got he's got his dad over here from New Zealand I think probably that was overcome there with some emotion and a lot of these guys it's we really hold it together all year long I mean if you if you follow us around there's not a whole lot of rah-rah so it's pretty quiet and so I think this is finally just lets it out coach Congrats first three-peat since 2000 you guys are in the history books best of luck track and then going for for next year yeah we'll see that's right yeah we'll be the best thing we can be Thank You Gordon Ryan guys back to you Wow an emotional day for a number of people do especially for BYU and guys it was very different you know we saw the Colorado women win and there was a ton of excitement and the people and the NAU guys defend their title three-peat and there was a lot of emotion in a different way some tears I'm sure of joy and excitement but just can you talk about just how different those emotions can be when you come through a big moment like that it's big it's really big I mean I think you saw coach Smith like you know in tears and you know he's a grown man you know and you know it just it just it just speaks to like how how much that meant to them and obviously you know the the task of trying to get a three-peat there's a lot of pressure and you know the media hype sit up and you know you try to like keep it as tame as possible but you know it gets it gets to the month of mind and I remember you know when we wanted in 2011 make just in tears and you know it's same familiar sight same emotions and it's it that was that was beautiful to watch that's beautiful to it yeah and I think I think too that everything everything could go right you know throughout the season and then and then you have to come together on the day so it feels like such a gift when you know you know how fragile it is and then you come and you show up and everyone fights for each other and then it does actually happen it really just is in a word overwhelming you know one aspect that these teams talk about they say it's all about the team you know you know mo I got to imagine you or a guy with individual aspirations but you know winning trying to win that team title you you have to put that do you put have to put it aside like some people describe or when you went into it did you was it always team first and how hard is that yeah for us it was a team first honestly Mick didn't even tell me that he was gonna send me out with the front guys until like a minute before the race and it actually paid to be the you know the deciding factor of why we won Oklahoma State didn't capitalize on you know sending one out out front with me and yeah so for me I really even even when he said go out there chase the title I had to like you know think about my teammates and a lot of a lot of the times when he got really tough I was thinking about my teammates and I was like he better he better get as many points and as many pass as many people as you can and you know the team the team means the most individual you know you can you kid that's that's something that you can be proud of yourself but when you have you know 6 7 9 10 people back home you know that that can that share that you know it's it's a big deal and you know the reunions that these guys are gonna have over when they're old and gray it's gonna it's gonna be incredible so they're gonna talk about it definitely a special day you know the we saw we talked all morning about what was going to happen and we saw it all unfold here Danny Jones in the Colorado women NAU and Morgan McDonald for Wisconsin individually so awesome competition don't forget right now going on is the Division three men's national championship in Oshkosh so if you want to see some more cross country you can flip over to that also upcoming you can see what we have in a couple weeks time with the d2 NC double-a d2 national championships the European cross country championships and then the indoor season kicking off very quickly will be at Boston University a number of times also on the East Coast and then west coast out at University of Washington and then a number of the conference championships with the MPSF the big Big Ten big 12 Mountain West and the MEAC so man I don't want cross country to end though I'm talking about indoor lighting day today and we do want to give a shout out over in oshkosh the women's d3 championship Washington you upsets John Hopkins the the alma mater of Gordon how you feel about one point they took down that dynasty one point so that men's race is going on as we speak but Wow Hopkins is still a strong team but when beat by watching you by one points that's harsh so you'll see you see the awards stand there well we reward some team and individual trophies top 40 all-american individuals on both the men's and women's sides and then those podium team spots for the men and women where we will see what that race we just saw with them in northern Arizona first BYU great second half of that race to move in a second Portland on the podium once again in third and then Colorado three hunters in the top 11 unbelievable top three right there now finished fourth so guys any any any closing thoughts out what we saw today any anything you're gonna take away from this one I mean the weather actually played a factor I mean Colorado like you know I individual title on the women's side a team title on the on the women's side and a top four finish we didn't expect that from the man and man like exciting races it was a great it was a great day here's a great day and I think it's just inspirational and just affirming to see how powerful too powerful it is to run with a motivation that's so much bigger than you you know you could see that in the emotion of both the individuals and I mean even if you're here as an individual you know that there's so many people behind you in spirit who have led you to this moment and I think that was in the minds and hearts of everyone out here today so it's just really cool to see that freshly and you know I'm personally motivated to go out and do that and remember those people behind me we're going to get that again after that course right now there's still a lot of fans out there Jordan for you you followed this all season you've been at all the events with it with every team here you've been actually with a lot of these teams anything that you're you take away from today is a surprise or a special moment in your eyes I think it's just expecting the unexpected and a you won in the way that we did not see happen they got all mode they almost lost it the end normally they're pulling away at the end and seeing Colorado's Danny Jones you know we forgot about her because you know she red shirts the outdoor season so she's not in the outdoor track circuit as much but man that kick is nasty and I can't wait to see what she does this upcoming track season it's gonna be fun to watch Danny Jones in the Colorado woman so three three new champions crowned today and NAU the repeat so we we really appreciate everyone that tuned in to watch thanks to Kevin Sully out there interviewing our team and individual champions great interviewer there with the the NAU crew mo a be awesome to have you guys on board this year hopefully you guys enjoyed it and we'll see you guys again and Gordon we'll see you all through the indoor season so no goodbyes we'll just see you later so what will send it to the awards in just a little bit but for now we'll take a break and be back with you thanks again tuning in here from Madison at the Thomas Zimmer championship cross country force

Channel: NCAA Championships

Views: 189,947

Rating: 4.8809524 out of 5

Keywords: NCAA, men's cross country, ncaa cross country, cross country, xc, division i, northern arizona, northern arizona cross country, 2018 men's ncaa cross country, men's college cross country, morgan mcdonald, wisconsin cross country, morgan mcdonald cross country, 10k cross country, men's distance running, morgan mcdonald 10k, morgan mcdonald ncaa, morgan mcdonald 2018 ncaa

Id: 1tL_IwhkXto

Length: 57min 6sec (3426 seconds)

Published: Fri Oct 04 2019