Covering long distances is nothing new for Josh Spinner, so it was fitting that the West Liberty-Salem distance runner chose a college that is located 1,121 miles away to continue his athletic career.
Spinner has plenty of miles left to race after signing to run cross country and track and field for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, an NCAA Division II program.
“Josh will be a perfect fit for the UCCS,” said WL-Salem boys cross country coach Mike Louden. “He possesses all of the attributes a coach is looking for. He’s passionate about the sport, he pays attention to the fine details and he will do whatever the program needs him to do to benefit the program. Lastly, Josh brings a positive attitude each and every day to his training which is contagious amongst his teammates.”
How Spinner came to find his new home was academically driven and finding a place to continue his running career was an added bonus.
“I researched the top nutrition programs in the country and found out about UCCS and its program,” said Spinner. “I’ll have the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business while directly working with Olympians, professional athletes and even members of the armed forces.
“Athletically, UCCS has a powerhouse program and is always ranked highly on national polls. I loved the thought of running through all the beautiful trails and paths through the mountains and forests, as well as training in the phenomenal facilities UCCS has.”
The Mountain Lions recently finished 22nd at the NCAA Division II national track and field meet, while the cross country team finished 20th at the NCAA championships. Both programs are led by 14-year head coach Mike Misch, who was named the Estonian Athletics Association Coach of the Year.
“Coach Misch is a huge part of my decision to commit there,” said Spinner. “After talking with him, I knew he’d be a coach who would push me to grow and mature not only as a runner, but also as a man and a son of God. Additionally, I really appreciate nature and enjoy the Earth’s beauty, so the outdoorsy and wholistic environment UCCS has is one that will cultivate my love for running, enjoying the outdoors, and leading an active lifestyle.”
Spinner has been a key part of WL-Salem’s cross country and track teams for the past few years. He helped the Tigers cross country team to a 12th place finish at the Division II state meet last fall. Most recently, Spinner was a part of the Tigers’ 3,200 relay team that placed seventh at the state track and field meet.
“My goal will always be to contribute to the team in every aspect that I can,” said Spinner. “Whether that means being a top runner on the team or being a guy who brings energy to practice and helps our team grow closer together.
“I’ve already spoken with a lot of the guys on the team and know we have a phenomenal team atmosphere, so my eyes are definitely focused on contributing as a top runner. I’ll be heading out to campus mid-July to get acclimated to the altitude and environment and really focus on training.”