Sutherland’s Ollie Hoare on top of the World and on track for Tokyo

2 September 2020

Sutherland’s Ollie Hoare on top of the World and on track for Tokyo

While the World has been far from normal in 2020, for American-based Sutherland Shire distance runner Ollie Hoare, there has been also lots of change including the cancellation of the NCAAs the day prior to the event, transition to a new coach, a new squad and new home, graduating from university and now out of the secure structure of university. But all of these challengers have not affected Ollie Hoare’s form on the track – a world lead in the mile and under the Tokyo Olympic 1500m standard have been highlights in the last two weeks.

The 2019/20 NCAA season was due to be Hoare’s final appearance for the Wisconsin Badgers. In November, he achieved his second top-20 NCAA cross country finish. Then indoors in early 2020 he had run an 800m PB, clocked 3:56 in the mile for second at Millrose and won his regional mile and 3000m events. But the day before the NCAA Indoors, the season was shut down due to COVID.

“As most of you would probably hear, the Big Ten have withdrawn all athletes from competing tomorrow at the NCAA division 1 indoor meet. My last one, hoping to be a killer finish to my indoor collegiate season,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I am guttered and disappointed with this decision. With the issues of the current health crisis I was also planning on fulfilling a person dream since I was a kid. To come back to Sydney and compete at my first Olympic trails. Unfortunately I will not be able to achieve that dream and will be sent back today to Madison Wisconsin. We all go through life as a roller coaster. A ride full of ups and downs. I am devastated for my teammates and for all competitors who are dealing with this right now. Opportunities will come our way again, just stay true, keep competing hard and never stop loving what you do.

“I was confident I was about to break out with another couple of NCAA titles to my name,” Hoare recalled this week reflecting on the year. His entire year and near future was now in turmoil.

“I was only able to compete for 3.5 years in college whereas most take full advanced and do five years. I was planning to graduate with a degree in economics in May (2020) and then move on to my career as a hopeful professional athlete. However, COVID hit and the indoor and outdoor seasons were cancelled.”

The NCAA outdoor 1500m champion in 2018 and indoor bronze medallist in 2019, Hoare was keen to see out his NCAA career.

“I did suggest to my coach Mick Byrne to come back for a 5th year to use up my eligibility by taking a double major or a masters degree. However, The Athletics Director did not want to pay for students who missed out on their opportunities and told us to “move on” so with that I left and graduated and went professional.”

Now out of college, Hoare negotiated training in COVID times while planning his future.

“Training wasn’t too bad but a little constricting and lonely. I enjoyed grinding through miles and doing some hard workouts on the track and some tempo work on the trails. It was a good block to focus and keep in mind that opportunities will arise in the future.”

In August he announced his next step.

“The long wait is over. I’m privileged to announce that I will be running on clouds as a professional runner for @on_running in Boulder Colorado. Excited to be working with @djritzenhein and @joe_klecker to make a mark on the world stage. Thank you to my family, friends and teammates for their constant support. More to come.”

Under new coach, there were some tweaks to his training.

“My training now has gone to another level. Under new coach Dathan Ritzenhein and a new group, training at 1600m, it did change my fitness and my strength in the sport to a new level in a short month,” he said this week.

Since returning to competition last month, over a 14-day period he has run three outstanding personal bests. After recording the first sub-4 minute mile (3:56) at altitude (1600m) in Colorado, he ran a three second 1500m PB of 3:34.63 in Nashville - the 11th fastest Australian ever and under the Tokyo Olympic standard time of 3:35.00, although the qualifying period is currently suspended. A week later he sliced s staggering 79 seconds from his 5000m PB to clock 13:28.33 over 5000m, moving into the Australian top-30 all-time. Then in South Carolina he clocked the world leading mile time of 3:53.35, a six seconds outdoor PB, although he has run 3:54.83 indoors.

After completing a very successful high school career at Trinity Grammar in Sydney, his journey at college in America started in late 2016 as a 3:46 1500m athlete. He signed on with University of Wisconsin–Madison in US’s mid-west, where there was a familiar face – former Newington College’s Morgan McDonald.

“I have known Morgan since I was ten, running at the National cross country championships in Perth in 2007-8. Since then Morgan has been a mentor and a good mate. We have a lot of good times and banter. He was a big reason I went to Wisconsin. The schools heritage, academics as well as the coaching was a major factor too but having Morgan there was huge for me to learn from him and to run with a fellow Aussie over in the states. Currently Morgan and I are still together after all this time, living in boulder Colorado where our groups are both based so it’s been a journey and a fun one at that.”

Now settled into college, Hoare made progression as freshman in year one, although was short of qualifying for the NCAA finals, but in April 2018, as a sophomore he smashed his 1500m PB by over five seconds, now down to 3:37.84, and two months later proved his competitive ability winning the NCAA title on debut. It was another solid year in 2019 at the NCAA finals, third in the indoor mile and fourth outdoors in the 1500m and recording PBs of 3:37.20 (outdoor 1500m) and a brilliant indoor mile time of 3:54.83. With indoor times a few slower than outdoors, this mark remains probably second best only to his recent 3:34.63 outdoor 1500m.

His college career is strong evidence his recent performances have been on the horizon.

“For me it has been a constant build up to my form. (During college) I was able to learn more about myself and how I adapted to training and races.”

After the 2018 NCAA win he could not fly under the radar anymore in races, but against the clock he was outstanding.

“It was important for me to go through this process in early 2019. Still being in the collegiate system I knew if I stayed constant that the results would follow on the track.”

What next for Ollie Hoare?

“Plans are to make the Tokyo Olympics and Australian teams in the future. Try and win the Olympic trails and run as fast as I can when I can.”

Certainly Hoare’s prospects for the Tokyo Olympics are strong. Just Stewart McSweyn has the Olympic 1500m standard, and was recently selected in the 5000m and 10,000m. The Olympic timetable only allows McSweyn to do the 1500m/10000m or 5000m/10,000m double. Perth’s Matthew Ramsden certainly looks capable of qualifying, and in recent weeks has been just outside the Olympic standard in the 1500m and 5000m. National record holder, Ryan Gregson, in his European debut last month, was also just outside the Olympic standard with a time of 3:35.57. Hoare’s 3:34.63, is understand the standard, but he will need to repeat the mark when the Olympic qualifying period reopens on 1 October 2020.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Ollie Hoare