Western Colorado University Athletics

There wasn't a year Scott Nagelkerke was on Western Colorado's campus that he wasn't part of a national championship team or earned All-American honors for the Mountaineer cross country and track teams. The three-time individual national champion was inducted into the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 25, 2019, at the University Center.
 
Nagelkerke from 1999-2004 earned 15 All-American honors, was a member of four national championship teams, was a three-time individual national champion and a two-time national runner-up.
 
Nagelkerke began his collegiate career on the cross country course as a true freshman in 1999. That year, Nagelkerke placed ninth at the national championships, earning All-American honors and helping Western to its third national title in program history.
 
It would be the first of four consecutive national titles by the Mountaineer men's cross country team. Nagelkerke was part of each of those titles, earning All-American honors during all four cross country seasons.
 
Following cross country in the fall Nagelkerke took to the track competing in nearly every distance event, earning 11 All-American honors. Nagelkerke's track career didn't begin until 2001, but the harrier earned six indoor All-American honors between the 5k and mile - including two indoor national titles in the 5k during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. In the mile, Nagelkerke finished runner-up twice.
 
Outdoors, Nagelkerke added five more All-American honors and one more national title. Nagelkerke earned three of those honors in the 5k and two in the 1,500 meter run.
 
In recounting his running mechanics, Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame coach Duane Vandenbusche described him as the smoothest runner that he has ever coached.
 
"He was a very fierce competitor, and when the chips were on the line, he was among the best with a great finishing kick in all the distance events," Vandenbusche said.
 
Nagelkerke's personal best marks at Western are also still 15-plus years later some of the best marks by any Mountaineer. His time of 8:22.45 in the indoor 3,000 meters ranks 10th all-time. Nagelkerke's time of 13:55.21 in the indoor 5k ranks second best and his time of 4:04.23 in the indoor mile is third best. Outdoors, Nagelkerke ran a 5k in 13:48.91 which currently ranks fifth in program history.
 
Nagelkerke graduated from Western in 2004 with a degree in business.