By winning a bronze medal in the 10,000-metre race and placing fifth in the 5,000 metres at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., the St. Catharines distance runner became only the second University of Wisconsin runner to garner First Team All-America honours in the two events at the same NCAA championships.

The results capped a great career for the Wisconsin male athlete of the year candidate. The St. Catharines Collegiate alumnus earned eight All-America honours during his five years — five on the track and three in cross country. The Big Ten record holder in the 10,000 metres helped Wisconsin win four Big Ten cross-country crowns, three Big Ten track titles and the 2011 NCAA cross-country championship.

All that is well and good for the 2012 Olympian and ninth-place finisher at the 2013 world championships, but he leaves university without achieving his goal. More…