Western Colorado University Athletics

A three national champion and current RMAC and Western State steeplechase record-holder was one of four individual inductees during the 16th Annual Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Banquet Oct. 8 at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison.

“Jennifer (Michel), without a doubt, was the heart and soul of the Mountaineer program during her tenure as an athlete,” wrote Adams State Head Track and Field Damon Martin in his nomination letter. “I am certain that Jen was one to bring out the best in her teammates.”

Jennifer graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in 1996 after earning letters in basketball, track and field and cross country. She qualified for the state cross country championship three times and the state track and field meet twice, while also playing prep volleyball in the fall.

Jennifer became a part of the top five runners in her first cross country season in 1996, and placed No. 34 at the national championships as the Mountaineers finished second as a team. While she would’ve been considered an All-American based on today’s standards, the standard in 1996 was the top 25 American-born runners.  Based on the number of international runners who placed ahead of her, Jennifer finished just a few positions outside of All-America honors.

Jennifer did finish seventh among freshmen, and was able to earn All-America honors in each of the next three seasons. She finished as high as fifth in her senior season of 1999, and also picked up NCAA Cross Country Runner of the Year honors in the same year.

In the following spring, Jennifer collected her first individual national championship in the outdoor 3,000-meter run at North Carolina Central. She followed with an indoor title in the 2001 mile and won the inaugural 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2001 by more than six seconds in 10 minutes, 22.06 seconds. It would be a national championship record until 2008.

Jennifer’s time of 10:17.80 from earlier in that championship season still remains the program record. Her name still appears in outdoor records for the 800-meter, 1,500-meter, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs, and indoor records for the mile, 800-meter and 3,000-meter runs.

Jennifer went on to compete at the U.S. Track and Field Outdoor Championships in 2002 and finished fifth in the steeplechase. She also represented the United States in the Eikiden Road Relays in China and Japan.

“She was my top leader on the cross country and track teams her last two years in school and set a high standard for other young women to follow,” said former Western State Cross Country Coach Duane Vandenbusche. “When the chips were on the line and the going got tough, Jennifer was among the best I ever had – she left it all on the athletic field.”