RICHMOND, Ky. – Mia Forster of Eastern Kentucky University's cross country and track and field programs has been named Associate Head Coach of the programs by Head Coach
Cory Erdmann on Monday morning.
Forster first joined the program as an assistant in July 2022, and has helped lead the Colonels to success in each of her three seasons.
In Forster's first three years with the program, she assisted in producing multiple individual conferences champions in distance events as well as back-to-back-to back ASUN Championships in men's cross country, and back-to-back trips to the NCAA National Championships.
Most recently at the 2025 outdoor track and field season, Forster coached three Colonels in
Edna Chelulei,
Kristian Imroth, and
Bahiya El Arfaoui to All-American honors at the NCAA National Championships.
The Colonels demolished program records throughout the 2025 season including Chelulei who broke her own school record in the women's 5,000m at NCAA East First Rounds in a time of 15:30.56. Chelulei became the first female in EKU history to compete in the 5,000m and 10,000m at nationals.
The first year Colonel also claimed Most Outstanding Freshman Performer honors from the ASUN.
In total, 10 members of the EKU men's and women's track field teams qualified for the NCAA East First Round.
Colonel success with Forster has gone international as this past Summer distance runner
Mario Priego Montero claimed the bronze medal at the FISU World University Games in the men's 10,000m.
Additionally, a number of Colonel distance runners under Forsters' coaching have received conference, regional, and national honors.
Honors earned under her include over 20 All-Conference cross country runners, eight USTFCCCA All-Region selections in cross country, six honorable mention All-Americans in track & field, one Second Team All-American, and two First Team All-American earners in track & field.
Forster ran three years at Siena College where she graduated with an undergraduate degree in communications with a concentration in journalism before earning a masters in sports management with certificate in coaching from St. John's University, competing for another three seasons.
