Duncan Macdonald

hirunning on March 11, 2022

Olympian Duncan Macdonald is Hawaii’s most accomplished distance runner and a highly successful coach. One of the top U.S. runners in the 1970s and 80s, he recorded world class times at every distance between 800 meters and the marathon.

His career started at Kailua High School where he was a two-time state cross country champion and two-time state champion in the mile. He held state records in the mile (4:11.6) and 880 yards (1:52.7).

At Stanford University, he set a school record in the mile (3:59.6), becoming the school’s first sub-4-minute miler. He was inducted into the Stanford University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.

His personal best at various distances on the track include:

  • 800 meters 1:49.7
  • 1500 meters 3:40.9
  • 1 mile 3:58.4
  • 3000 meters 7:51.2
  • 2 miles 8:19.85
  • 5 kilometers 13:19.40
  • 10 kilometers 28:38.01

His personal best at various distances on the road include:

  • 15 kilometers 44:14
  • 20 kilometers 1:01:55
  • 25 kilometers 1:17:44
  • Marathon 2:12:50

Notable Achievements:

1976 Olympic Games (Montreal)

  • Finished seventh in the 5,000 meters semi-final

U.S. Olympic Trials

  • Finished sixth in the 1500 meters (1972)
  • Finished second in the 5000 meters (1976)
  • Finished eleventh in the marathon (1984)

U.S. Records

  • On August 10, 1976, in Stockholm, Sweden, broke Steve Prefontaine’s U.S. Record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:19.40
  • On October 2, 1977, at the National AAU 25 Kilometer Championship held at Schofield Barracks, broke Frank Shorter’s U.S. Record with a time of 1:17:44

U.S. National Championships

  • Finished second in the 10,000 meters (1976 & 1981)
  • Finished first in the 25K Road (1977 & 1978)

U.S. National Teams

  • 1973 USA vs, USSR indoor
  • 1976 US Olympic Team
  • 1977 FISU World University Games
  • 1980 IAAF Cross Country

Masters Running

  • Finished fourth in the 1500 meters at the World Masters Championship (age group 40-44)
  • Finished first in the 5,000 meters at the USATF Masters Championship (age group 55-59)

Hawaii Running

  • Won the Honolulu Marathon three times: 1973 (inaugural year), 1976, and 1980
  • Won the inaugural Great Aloha Run in 1985
  • Won numerous local road races

Coaching Career

  • USATF Level 1 Coaching Certificate
  • USATF Level 2 Coaching Certificate: distance, sprints, and hurdles
  • Kailua AA
  • Punahou Girls Cross Country (state champions 17 times between 1999-2021)
  • Punahou Boys Cross Country: (state champions 2 times – 2019 & 2021)
  • Punahou Girls Track and Field: (state champions 11 times between 2004-2019)

Duncan Macdonald, M.D., is a board-certified anesthesiologist in Honolulu. He lives in Kailua with his wife Darby. They have two daughters, Eri and Pippa, and two grandchildren.