Badgering: Oliver Hoare
November 08, 2017 | Men's Cross Country, Andy Baggot, Varsity Magazine
Hailing from Australia, sophomore runner shares his recent breakthrough, what he misses from home and taking risks
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Oliver Hoare represents the latest milestone in Wisconsin men's cross country history. A sophomore from Sydney, Australia, Hoare became the 25th Badgers runner to win a Big Ten Conference individual title, putting him on a list that includes Olympians like Matt Tegenkamp and Steve Lacy and icons like Don Gehrmann and Simon Bairu. Hoare recently took a moment to talk about his breakthrough outing, the thing he misses most from back home and the biggest risk he's ever taken.
What got into you at the Big Ten meet? A year ago you finished 40th in the same race. A month ago you placed 114th in the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational. What gives?
"It was definitely more of a team-oriented feeling. Going through racing, especially in a sport that's considered individual, it seems easier to let yourself down than letting your teammates down. I guess running through my head was a lot of those boys are very good friends of mine; we spend a lot of time together. Running for them gave me the motivation to do the best I could and the best I could at that point was to win that race."
Did you surprise yourself?
"Yeah, I did. I knew I was capable of running really well from the training that I've been doing. I definitely did surprise myself, but then I definitely backed up my confidence in thinking I could (win)."
We're closing in on the 2017 @NCAAGreatLakes Regional! Fans can watch the #Badgers race LIVE via @FloTrack Pro ??- http://go.wisc.edu/xcwatch111017
— Wisconsin Badger Track & Field (@BadgerTrackXC) November 7, 2017
Is there trash-talking on the course in a race like that?
"Not particularly. If there's a push and shove, a boy might say, 'Hey, settle down.' There's more of a body-language aspect to trash talking. Like if you see a guy moving around, you can tell by his body language if he's upset or angry or excited."
The spotlight on you just got brighter. Are you okay with that?
"I guess I am. It sort of hit me after the race, especially with all the attention and the interviewers and other people I didn't know coming up and congratulating me."
Are you in a good place mentally heading into the NCAA Great Lakes Regional later this week?
"I definitely am. Coming off a race like that, confidence is always going to be definitely higher. I'm definitely excited for what's going to come ahead, but I want to keep the same intuition and the same incentive of running well for the team and running well for myself."
Here's Ollie Hoare and Joe Hardy after the duo went 1-2 at #B1GXC
— Wisconsin Badger Track & Field (@BadgerTrackXC) October 30, 2017
Is there something you left behind in Australia that you wish you had?
"Definitely TimTams. I miss TimTams. They're chocolate biscuits you have with your tea or your coffee. They're fantastic. You can get them here, but they're very limited to get here. I really miss having them with my tea and coffee."
Your major and why?
"It's a bit up in the air, but I want to double-major in economics and poli-sci. I'm very interested in the environment and the economic aspect of that."
What's the biggest risk you've ever taken?
"Leaving everything behind at home and coming here. Becoming independent in a different country at a young age. Becoming resilient and pretty much an adult, looking out for yourself without any family."
Check out some pics from Sunday's #B1GXCX meet! ??
— Wisconsin Badger Track & Field (@BadgerTrackXC) November 1, 2017
What was the biggest challenge embracing that risk?
"Management, organization. To be organized as an athlete and an academic and as a person. Having a routine."
What's something you wish you knew about Madison before you came here?
"It would be the scenic routes where you can walk around and see the different parts of Madison and the lakes. I didn't know, coming on my recruiting visit, how pretty it was. Being here a bit longer I've realized how wonderful it is walking around seeing the certain aspects of Madison, State Street, the Capitol, everywhere. That's something I wish I knew."
Players Mentioned
