Morgan Leaving OAC

Almgren has been coached by Urban Aruhn since 2012/2013.

Good,

No,

Excellent Post

and cole hocker

I'm not sure you'd even need two hands to count all the races he's done since joining OAC. He's on the back end of his career and needs a change to see what he can get out of these final few years. Even if it's just competing consistently rather than challenging for top places. Good luck to him

Time to move up to the marathon. He’s spent too much of his career already running 13 low in the 5k. Time to cash in

Seems like the time he spent with Almgren in Sweden has opened his eyes to other possibilities.

I was watching a Morgan training video from 2024, and Dathan is in the background saying "Did you say double threshold? That's a swear word around here."

Dathan always says cringe things...

Could he join up with Grant ? Not competing for the same spot on a national team and I imagine grant could enjoy some company in workouts.

Might be good for Grant’s ego to tow around a guy who used to yeet on him in college. And good for Morgan’s fitness

And Josh Kerr

Oh no! He was probably their last remaining hope for a medal.

I hope so. It's tedious to watch when I've attempted to.

well, he’s not leaving Boulder, Colorado if his girlfriend lives in Boulder and he was wearing an OAC T-shirt through the whole video so I’m thinking he’s still sponsored by ON just training on his own.

Half @$$ effort in Paris as well. Just really left a bad taste for quite a few people.

Likely, no.

OAC/Boulder is now expanding it's road/marathon team. Former professional runner Laura Thweatt was brought onto the coaching staff in June 2025 to lead this group.

Ryan Ford recently joined while, per Joe Klecker on the Coffee Club's most recent episode, a new big name will be announced shortly.

Joe stated this has been a boon to his training as, prior to this summer, he had to shoehorn a portion of his training into the track guys' programs which he found difficult and exhausting. Went so far as to say he hasn't spiked up in several months.

By decoupling track from roads, OAC/Boulder will essentially be comprised of 2 teams, each with it's own coach as well as training and racing schedules -- although Klecker stated Ritz will still oversee the road group.

So, if Morgan wanted to move up to the roads, he would have a clear path with mostly individualized training with Laura Thweatt at OAC.

We know he's trained recently with Woody -- who's moving to the roads next year, probably has already. Joining Mike Smith's group in Flagstaff would mean a change in sponsors, correctly stated above.

This certainly is a viable option, as Morgan stated in his iG post today, "for now, I am still here grinding it out in Boulder . . ."

Been a big fan of Morgs since college and think he still has the talent maybe just not the body for Ritz's style of training.

A lot of the OAC follow a similar path.....1st 1-2 years of training is when they peak and then they can't handle the workload and break down......every runner on that team has gone through some sort of major injury.

I enjoy the coffee club podcast and although not explicitly said it was clear the boys aren't too happy with the way Ritz coaches......Seems like Hoare wants to leave....but he trains with one of the best 1500m runners in the world so he won't. I feel like Beamish if he didn't medal this past WC would have considered leaving as well.

In past podcasts they have all talked about how amazing it would be to train in Australia/NZ and now with OAC Oceania and Craig Mottram I wonder if it would be an option for any of them to go down there and join that team.

My general impression of the OAC guys is that they are in it for the lifestyle and hangs with their mates, and almost accept the ineffective training and injuries to maintain that. Essentially they are stoked just to have a pro contract.

Therefore, I think Morgan moving on is a really smart move to shake things up, and blaze his own trail. Break up the boys club a bit and allow those remaining to reflect on what they want to get out of OAC.

I wasn't following NCAA back in 2018-19, so I've only recently caught up on some old races from that time (it doesn't make the sports news in Australia). I had no idea Morgan spanked Grant again and again - XC, indoors and outdoors. Wtf.