Western Colorado University Athletics

Michael Aish was recruited from New Zealand to Gunnison during the summer of 1998. During his short four years competing for the Mountaineers in cross country and track and field, he would become the most decorated Western athlete in school history.
 
Altogether, Aish would win 10 individual and three team national championships from 1998-2002. He would also accrue 16 All-America honors between cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field.
 
One of the most dominant Division II athletes during his time at Western, Aish helped lead the Mountaineer cross country team to four straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference titles and three NCAA Division II National Championship team titles.
 
Aish won seven 5,000-meter National Championships, three in outdoor track and field and four indoors. He would win three outdoor 10,000-meter National Championships, helping the Western men's outdoor team to the 1999 conference title.
 
"Michael's compassion and care for each of his teammates shine brighter than all of his trophies," teammate Joshua Eberly said in his nomination letter. "Michael created a team atmosphere that was 'running' off chemistry, trust and camaraderie. He taught us how to lead and feed off each other, whether it was in a race, at practice or just hanging out."
 
For his efforts, Aish was named an RMAC Athlete of the Year three times, once is track and field and twice in cross country. He also earned the same number of distinctions at the national level, being named the NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year in cross country twice and track and field once.
 
Aish continued his passion of running following graduation at Western. He would compete in two Olympic games in 2000 and 2004 for New Zealand. Both times, he ran the 10,000 meters.
 
Currently residing in Boulder, Colorado with wife and 2006 MSHOF inductee Nicole Aish (Jefferson), Aish now coaches professional runners.