COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – August 3, 2018 – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Head Men's Cross Country and Assistant Men's Track & Field Coach Mark Misch has been named to the coaching staff of the Estonian Athletic Federation's National Team for the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, Germany from August 6^th-12^th.
 
The European Championships is a major event in Europe that runs on a biennial cycle and only includes European Nations. These championships will be held in the host cities of Glasgow, Scotland and Berlin, Germany between August 2^nd and August 12^th.
 
"I've been fortunate to work with kids on dirt tracks in third world countries and guys at the Olympics like Tiidrek and Kaur, and the sport doesn't really change that much regardless of the talent level," said Misch. "The fun part of coaching is helping and watching a person develop over a period of time in various areas of their life and seeing them grow in the process along the way. I've been fortunate to be involved in the sport for over 30 years and meet a lot of wonderful people along the journey."
 
Misch began serving as head coach in 2007 and is now entering his 12^th season at UCCS. Since 2008, Misch has guided the men's cross country team to the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014. The UCCS Mountain Lions have had 27 different student-athletes qualify to compete in 41 different distance events at the NCAA II Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field and Outdoor Track & Field Championships as well as multiple All-RMAC and all-region performers. On the academic side, the Mountain Lion men's cross country teams have won 10 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic awards and have had several student-athletes earn individual RMAC and USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
 
Outside of coaching at UCCS, Misch has mentored and coached several post-college athletes including Estonian athletes Tiidrek Nurme and Kaur Kivistic. Both Nurme and Kivistic have qualified for the European Championships and will be coached by Misch.
 
"I've known Tiidrek for about a decade and it's been gratifying to be a part of the process as he's matured and gone from being a 1500m national record-holder early in his career, to now as an international level marathoner at the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships," Misch said. "Both Tiidrek and Kaur are great guys to work with and very motivated which obviously makes them a joy to coach. They are family men first; they train hard in a small country with a tough history and they split time training there and over here in the United States due to the weather conditions. Plus we have the altitude factor which is a benefit."
 
Tiidrek Nurme, a well-known athlete in Estonia, is one of only four men in history to have qualified for and competed in separate Olympics Games in the 1500m (2008) and the marathon (2016) during their career. As a long and middle distance runner, Nurme is a current Estonian national record-holder in four outdoor events and one indoor event. The outdoor events include the 1500m (3:38.59), mile (3:59.74), 2000m (5:06.2), and 3000m (7:48.24). For the indoor event, Nurme holds the national record for the 3000m (7:55.37). Nurme has competed in two World Championships, five European Championships, and has also competed in the Beijing (2008) and Rio de Janiero Olympics (2016).
 
Nurme reflects on what it means to have Misch as a coach, and what it means now that he is one of the national coaches for the Estonian National Team:
 
 "I have been cooperating with Coach Mark Misch more or less the last 10 years. He became more involved when I started to run marathons in 2015. Thanks to him I qualified to Rio Olympics in 2016 and to London Athletics World Championships in 2017. I like his great ideas how to approach to final goals in sports. In his understanding running has never been separated from the normal life. He always asks about my children. As a Christian he is a prayer soldier for his athletes. As a coach he is always trying to have a full picture of athlete's life and he counts everything before he is writing the training program. He is one of the few coaches who is capable to run with his athletes. Coach Misch is more professional runner than many pro runners are. He loves running and coaching! His output in Berlin will be very beneficial for every runner who is representing the Estonian National Team."
 
Kaur Kivistik (Tartu, Estonia) is a steeplechase runner who as seen a great amount of success in his career. Kivistik has competed in two European Championships as well as the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics. In 2015, Kivistik won the silver medal at the 2015 Summer Universiade (Gwanju, South Korea) in the 3000m steeplechase (8:32.23). Kivistik holds the second fastest steeplechase in Estonian history with that time of 8:32.23.
 
Kivistik talks about what it means to have Misch as a coach, and what it means now that he is one of the national coaches for the Estonian National Team:
 
"My previous coach (from Estonia) passed away at the end of February, so I had to look for another one. I met with Mark at the Rio Olympics where he was helping Tiidrek. In March, when I was in training camp in Flagstaff (AZ), I contacted again with him. I was very happy that Mark was ready to help me. He has a lot of knowledge about distance running, and also how to prepare and be ready for races mentally. I like the way how he makes the practice plans and how we set goals.
 
"For me it's very important that the coach is with me in my major events this summer. European Championships is a very big event in Europe and it means a lot to athletes. In Estonia, it's a big thing and big privilege to be on the team (also as a coach). If coach is with me, then I'm calmer which helps me get ready mentally. Mark is professional and I'm happy that he can be a part of this huge event. The Estonian team is not as big as countries like Germany or France, but we have a good chance to get some medals. Also we have a few coaches who can be with athletes and Mark is one of them. I think it's a new experience for both Mark and I. I hope we manage good results in Berlin, and I'm happy that Mark can be with me and smell this aroma."
 
The overall opportunity to travel to the European Championships with two athletes that Misch coaches, and to be recognized as a coach for the Estonian National Team has been marked as a truly humbling experience for Misch.
 
"Both are great competitors and it's been a real blessing just to help guide them as a personal coach and see what they have achieved, and to now be recognized as a member of the Estonian National Team coaching staff is very humbling as a foreigner," said Misch. "I have a lot of respect for what these guys have done and for their platform and the impact on the sports community and general public that they have in Estonia. They are true Ambassadors for their country and I just appreciate the trust that their Federation has given me to coach them."
 
To follow the European Championships, click HERE.