Former distance runner Michael Colaiacovo was inducted into the Francis Marion University Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Feb. 5Â baseball game between FMU and King University (Tenn.) on Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium.
Colaiacovo earned NAIA All-District Six honors all four years as a cross country runner, including twice winning the district individual title. He garnered All-District honors three years as a member of the Patriot track and field team. He received a B.A. degree in history, also in 1992.
Colaiacovo, a native of Manalapan, N.J., ran four seasons each in cross country and track and field for the Patriots. He currently resides in Midlothian, Va., with his wife and three kids. He has worked in federal law enforcement for eight years and is a criminal investigator for the United State Postal Service. A former marathon runner, he still puts in 55-to-60 miles a week and competes in the Master’s Division, running 5,000-, 8,000-, and 10,000-meter races.
On the cross country course, he earned All-District honors in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1991, including capturing the District Six individual title in 1989 and 1991. At the time, he became only the fifth cross country runner in the history of District Six to four-peat. He missed the 1990 season with an injury.
As a sophomore, Colaiacovo helped the Patriots to the 1988 District Six team championship. He advanced to compete in the NAIA National Cross Country Championships in 1988, 1989, and 1991 with his highest finish being a 116th-place showing (out of 342 runners) at the 1989 meet. He set his personal-best 8,000-meter time of 26:13 at the 1989 FMC Invitational Meet.
He twice earned All-State recognition and during his career registered 14 Top-10 showings.
On the track, he finished his career 14th on the Patriot all-time points list with 210.25. He helped Francis Marion captured the District Six team title in 1989 and 1990 with the Patriots placing second in his other two years.
He competed in the 880-yard run, the mile run, 1,500-meters, 5,000-meters, and the three-mile run during his career. He was named to the All-District Team in 1989, 1990, and 1991, winning the 5,000-meters twice and the three-mile run once. As a freshman, he finished second in three events (880-yard run, mile run, three-mile run) at the District Six championship meet.
His personal-best times as a Patriot were 15:49.38 for 5,000-meters and 15:30.02 for three miles.
