WISCONSIN BADGERS

Watch Wisconsin runner Oliver Hoare deliver late surge to win 1,500 meters at NCAA meet

JR Radcliffe
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Oliver Hoare of Wisconsin defeats Vincent Ciattei of Virginia Tech and Josh Kerr of New Mexico to win the 1,500m in 3:44.77.during the NCAA Track and Field championships at Hayward Field. Ciatteri was second in 3:45.012 and Kerr was third in 3:45.015.

Oliver Hoare, a native Australian running for the University of Wisconsin, came out of nowhere to win the national title in the 1,500 meters at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday in rainy Eugene, Ore.

Hoare downed three-time NCAA champion and record-holder Josh Kerr of New Mexico, among others, with a run of 3 minutes, 44.77 seconds, including a blistering final lap of 53.01.

Kerr ran 3:35.01 earlier this year to break a 37-year-old record in the event.

Oliver Hoare of Wisconsin defeats Vincent Ciattei of Virginia Tech and Josh Kerr of New Mexico to win the 1,500m in 3:44.77.during the NCAA Track and Field championships at Hayward Field. Ciatteri was second in 3:45.012 and Kerr was third in 3:145.015.

Hoare was near the back of the pack into the final 400 meters but outkicked the field in a remarkable finish.

It's the first Badgers national title in a track event since Chris Solinsky won the 5,000 in 2007 and first time a Badger has won the 1,500 since 1950.

Hoare, a sophomore, won Big Ten titles in the 3,000 and 5,000 at the indoor meet and then added the 1,500 title at the outdoor meet. He also captured the Big Ten cross-country title in the fall.