Morgan McDonald leaves UA? OAC soon?

JBaller33 wrote:

jack1759 wrote:

Can he not make Team Australia still? I know he narrowly missed out on the standard by 0.2 seconds in Nice. Australia have two discretionary spots right?

Australia hasn’t officially named everyone, although they have announced some events. They have already announced their 5000 meter team, which will consist of David McNeill, Stewart McSweyn, and Patrick Tiernan. That’s McDonald’s best event. It doesn’t look like he will be going.

https://www.theroar.com.au/olympics/australian-olympic-team/#ath

If he gets the standard he will make it or can still be selected as Stewy cant run the 1500 and 5k at Tokyo and he will opt for the 1500

Australian Athletics will not be making its final selections until July 1, two days after the last/final pre-Olympics WA world rankings are released.

Oliver Hoare will be named -- has the Oly standard & #9 ranking in the 1500 as of 6/15:

https://www.worldathletics.org/world-rankings/1500m/men?regionType=world&page=1&rankDate=2021-06-15&limitByCountry=0

Morgan McDonald likely will be named -- does not have the Oly standard but is currently the top-ranked 5k Aussie with his #16 world ranking as of 6/15:

https://www.worldathletics.org/world-rankings/5000m/men?regionType=world&page=1&rankDate=2021-06-15&limitByCountry=0

Was somewhat surprised he joined TeamBoss as he is the only elite guy on the team comprised mostly of women --- and, he has stated in his IG posts he is sharing a house in Boulder w/Ollie Hoare.

So, seems imminent that OAC will be making another announcement/press release shortly highlighting a further expansion to the team.

I don’t believe Australia will name McDonald over the three athletes with the standard - standard is weighted higher than WR - Stewy not running is really McDonalds only chance. Having a higher WR won’t mean McDonald will get the nod over others with the qualifier. Stewart’s events will affect McDonald and Ramsden - one of them will be selected depending on which 2 of his three qualified events Stewy does.

You cant be named in the team if you dont have the standard.

LondonLocal wrote:

You cant be named in the team if you dont have the standard.

Yes you can be named by World Ranking - if you fall within the quota.

According to Australia’s selection policy, there is no difference or weighting in terms of achieving a qualifying time, or world ranking standard. Based on the excerpts from the policy (see below) Morgan McDonald has a very good chance of making the Australian team for the Tokyo Olympics.

“Qualification System

5.1 The Qualification System allows an athlete to qualify for an Event at the Games by:

(i) achieving the Entry Standard for an Event within the relevant Qualification Period; or

(ii) their world ranking position in an Event at the end of the Qualification Period, with this world ranking position being determined by the International Federation.”

“where four or more Athletes have qualified for a Direct Quota Place in the same Event.

9.2 The Selection Committee will make their decision under clauses 9, 10 and 11 on a case by case basis, having regard to:

(a) the Aims of this Nomination Criteria Policy

(b) world ranking lists;

(c) previous Olympic Games and World Championships results;

(d) repeat performances at or near the WA Entry Standard;

(e) finishing position at the Australian Championships;

(f) head-to-head record within the Qualification Period, particularly at the

Australian Championships;

(g) other relevant head-to-head performances;

(h) performances against other Athletes;

(i) previous championships records which may include any WA championship,

Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games;

(j) current form and fitness; and

(k) any other factor the Selection Committee considers relevant.

For the avoidance of doubt, these matters are not listed in order of priority.”

Think About It wrote:

LondonLocal wrote:

You cant be named in the team if you dont have the standard.

Yes you can be named by World Ranking - if you fall within the quota.

World ranking qualifiers get an invite after WA has processed the nominations (by standard) and scratches submitted by the NOCs.

I suppose the selection policy is purposely broad. I still don’t believe Australian selectors would pick a WR over a qualifier. World Athletics weights it higher in their ranking lists, as below.

I still think it will depend on what Stewy ends up doing. He’s been announced as doing the 5000m and 10000m but I don’t know how accurate that is.

Will be interesting to see what they do. And I’m not sure if anyone else running in the next few days in Europe could bump these guys out of the list?

The policy does allow for anomaly’s. The WR system is not infallible - women’s Steeple in Australia shows this. The two athletes within the WR quota places have been beaten twice in the last month or two by an athlete further down the ranking, and she has run faster than their PBs as well. Not sure how you can allow for that as the third athletes three times are faster but somehow translate to lower rankings?

Initially it seemed a good choice to join Team Boss, but imo the lack of equal trainingpartners within his group gave him a sligtht disadvantage over his competitors. A move to a different group seems wise. Only a few athletes make it on their own.

UA also wasn't a bad option to join out of college until the superspikes became widely available, not only for the few NIKE superstars (BTC, former NOP) but to the 2nd tier Nike-athletes and the Ben True and Tracksmith type unattached runner. The fact is that even after more than a year UA wasn't able to catch up as other brand were.

McDonald just missed the Olympic standard in Nice, France on his old-skool UA-spikes not that long ago. Running 13.13.6 is a great performance, but in this day and age it's just not enough.

I hope he makes the games, he's a good charater and it think it's good for the sport that as much as possible different athletes can enjoy the Olympics and represent their country (and yeah I like his Youtube Channel).

JBaller33 wrote:

FairGo wrote:

Pretty sure this is completely inaccurate. Athletes can qualify either by time or ranking and McDonald has the highest world ranking of Aussie athletes in the 5000m. Selections not announced till after end of qualifying period ie. end of June.

It's accurate. Australian Olympic Committee wants him to double. I can't imagine he's happy about this. Their distance team selection is not making sense. They still haven't named Hoare yet, and he can win the 1,500.

"McSweyn will contest both the 5,000m and 10,000m – having broke the Australian record in the latter at the end of 2019."

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1097520/australia-tokyo-2020-athletics

Why are you citing an August 2020 article written by a British 'junior reporter'...

The selections haven't been finalised, simple as that.

Would probably think McDonald is a better bet than McNeill for Australia at the Olympics. McNeill ran a very good race to hit the qualifier but he lost pretty comfortably to McDonald at the Diamond league in Gateshead not long after - neither hit the standard that day, the weather was pretty trash. I do believe McDonald has been hindered in hitting the standard due to both an ankle injury and some poor weather in the events he has run. Ultimately McDonald in my eyes is more likely to make the 5000m final, has a better kick and probably deserves the chance given his form is upward trending of late, whilst McNeill has already done two olympic games & is yet to beat McDonald in a race this season (to my knowledge). Just my opinion, interested to see what selectors decide.

Eztr wrote:

JBaller33 wrote:

It's accurate. Australian Olympic Committee wants him to double. I can't imagine he's happy about this. Their distance team selection is not making sense. They still haven't named Hoare yet, and he can win the 1,500.

"McSweyn will contest both the 5,000m and 10,000m – having broke the Australian record in the latter at the end of 2019."

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1097520/australia-tokyo-2020-athletics

Why are you citing an August 2020 article written by a British 'junior reporter'...

The selections haven't been finalised, simple as that.

The Australian Olympic Committee has been making press releases to announce people who make the team. This article is based on the AOC press release. McSweyn has been named to the team for the 5,000 and 10,000. Maybe this can still change before the submission date of July 1? It still remains that they have already named him to the team in these events.

quipchoge wrote:

Would probably think McDonald is a better bet than McNeill for Australia at the Olympics. McNeill ran a very good race to hit the qualifier but he lost pretty comfortably to McDonald at the Diamond league in Gateshead not long after - neither hit the standard that day, the weather was pretty trash. I do believe McDonald has been hindered in hitting the standard due to both an ankle injury and some poor weather in the events he has run. Ultimately McDonald in my eyes is more likely to make the 5000m final, has a better kick and probably deserves the chance given his form is upward trending of late, whilst McNeill has already done two olympic games & is yet to beat McDonald in a race this season (to my knowledge). Just my opinion, interested to see what selectors decide.

David McNeill has already been named to the team by the Australian Olympic Committee. They have already named 3 runners at 5,000 meters, capping out the number of runners they can have. McDonald's only hope is that one of the runners drops the 5,000.

Also saw the men’s 800m qualifications. I’m sure Charlie Hunter is getting called after running 1:44.35

Thanks for the info, I believe he's running somewhere in Oregon this week for the standard again although the weather looks a bit hot. You have to wonder would he have it the standard and then some if he was using the Nike spikes instead of UA?

quipchoge wrote:

Thanks for the info, I believe he's running somewhere in Oregon this week for the standard again although the weather looks a bit hot. You have to wonder would he have it the standard and then some if he was using the Nike spikes instead of UA?

McDonald is a really good runner who should be going to the Olympics. It would be a shame if he doesn't. He will need to hit the standard this weekend, and then maybe McSweyn will drop his 5,000-10,000 double in favor of a shot at a medal in the 1,500, opening up a 5,000 spot for McDonald. Not sure why McDonald didn't go for the Olympic standard in the 1,500 as well. He's run 3:37 at that distance without much focus on it, and I think he has 3:32 potential. It could have given him other options to make the team.

quipchoge wrote:

Thanks for the info, I believe he's running somewhere in Oregon this week for the standard again although the weather looks a bit hot. You have to wonder would he have it the standard and then some if he was using the Nike spikes instead of UA?

The meet you're thinking of happened last night, where Hunter ran 1:44. McDonald was listed but then it was hot and the 5k start list emptied out. McDonald has improved his times but has gone backwards since college relative to peers like Knight, Fisher, Klecker. A new environment may help him get a bit more professional.

This has been posted multiple times on this thread. This is wrong. Australia has named athletes to the team that:

1. Won the national championship

2. Have the standard

Therefore, the 5k team has not been announced. The team will be announced July 2, like every other event.

I have heard the Tiernan is potentially considering just running the 10