Andy Trouard Ends Storied NAU Career as an All-American with Fourth-Place Finish at the NCAA Championships

EUGENE, Ore. - Andy Trouard ended one of the most storied Northern Arizona University track and field careers as a first team All-American after he finished fourth in the nation in the final of the men's 5000-meter race as the sole Lumberjack to compete on day three of the 2018 NCAA Outdoor National Championships at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

Trouard posted a time of 13:55.46 against a field that included some of the best to ever run in the event in NCAA history. The only three athletes who finished ahead of him, Stanford's Sean McGorty and Grant Fisher and Syracuse's Justyn Knight are all individual national title winners.

"Andy ran a gritty, courageous race tonight taking the best distance runners in the country right to the finish line in his final race in a NAU uniform. It's one that exemplifies what he's given us his whole career," director of track and field Michael Smith said. "His efforts tonight are ones that make our coaching staff very proud and he can be very proud of his performance."

The race got off to a fast start and the athletes would only stay on the pedal from there as Trouard stuck around the front of the pack for the majority of the evening. A slight drop to the middle of the field occurred in the middle section of the race but Trouard didn't panicked and stayed patient in waiting to make a move back to the front.

With 400-meters to go it was anyone's race and each of the top four athletes clocked final laps in the 56 second range in a wild finish. The four finished within .65 of each other.

"You saw four guys within six-tenths of a second cross the finish line together," Smith said. "Those scenarios are ones these athletes dream of. It's like when you're a kid playing basketball in your driveway and you come up with a scenario down by two with three seconds left on the clock trying to hit that shot. For a track runner it's 100-meters to go at the NCAA final and there's four guys across and you're at Hayward Field. These are dream scenarios and for Andy to be right in the mix like that we couldn't have been prouder. I was honored to be there witnessing his final race for NAU and I feel gratitude for what he's given our program."

"It was incredible," Trouard said. "The race played out pretty much how I expected. The last 400 to 100 meters was just down to a dogfight to the line and the three athletes ahead of me are some incredible runners. It was an honor getting to race them and I'm super excited about that race along with what I've accomplished at NAU."

Trouard ends his career as one of the most decorated athletes in school and Big Sky conference history. He is a three-time NCAA National Champion (two cross country team titles, one individual in track), a 16-time Big Sky Champion (13 team between track and cross, three individual) and a five-time NCAA First Team All-American (three in track, two in cross).

As a team Northern Arizona finished in a tie for 20th in the nation with 14 points. It was the fifth-highest mark by a mid-major school and the best among FCS programs this season. It was also the highest point total and finish in school history at outdoor nationals.  

The Lumberjacks had three first team All-American honorees on the men's side in Matt Baxter, Tyler Day and Trouard, the most recorded in program history. Luis Grijalva was also an All-American honorable mention.

"As we wrap up our men's year the performances at this meet were truly special," Smith concluded. "We had four All-Americans. With Luis running like he is as a freshman and three guys in the top five of the 3K and 5K, the way we are racing really represents this new era of NAU distance runners. The courage it takes to do what they're doing is what this program is all about."

Northern Arizona will have one last competing athlete in Ashley Taylor who gets a shot to run for the national title in the women's 800-meter race at 4:44 p.m. MST on Saturday. Fans will be able to watch the race live on ESPN.

Complete information on the 2018 NCAA Outdoor National Championship, including streaming and ticket information, can be found here.