Growing up in Clay, Kentucky, cross country wasn't just a sport for
Aidan Whitsell—it was a family tradition. With both parents coaching and a brother who ran before him, the path seemed almost inevitable. But what started as something he was surrounded by quickly became something he genuinely loved. "It was never a chore every day. I was surrounded by the greatest people," he said. "My family was heavily involved, my best friends were involved, and we did everything together."
That tight-knit environment shaped Whitsell's competitive spirit and laid the foundation for his future at Morehead State University. Following in his brother's footsteps, he found a place that felt like home from the very beginning.
When it came time to choose a college, Whitsell didn't have to look far. His brother had already paved the way at Morehead State, running for the same program and earning a degree in mechanical engineering technology. "My brother was an alumni here and he also ran, so he was on the team and he had been through the program," Whitsell said. "I'm following in the same degree as he got, and I knew the education program was good here."
That familiarity made the transition easier. He already knew the coaches, the campus, and even some of the best places around town—insider knowledge passed down from his brother. "My brother had a lot of influence on it and I ended up trusting him to come here and I really, really enjoy it," he said. "Morehead always felt like a good place to be and once I got here I absolutely loved it."
Whitsell's love for running began long before he put on a Morehead State jersey. With both of his parents coaching varsity teams and his brother leading the way, he was immersed in the sport from a young age. "All the runners were always at my house," he said. "I was always at practice even before I could run, just because my mom and my dad were there."
By the time he reached elementary school, he was already competing in local races. Along the way, he found a group of friends who would become like family. "I ended up meeting the best group of friends ever," he said. "We ran all the way through high school together, and we still talk pretty much every day."
Those early years taught him the value of community, consistency, and joy in the sport—lessons that continue to guide him today.
Cross country is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one. For Whitsell, the toughest moments in a race are the ones that define him. "Physically it's hard, but mentally it's always a battle to get yourself to push past that barrier," he said. "When I get done, I never want to feel like I could have ran harder or I didn't leave everything out there."
He uses past disappointments as fuel. "I've missed goals by four or five seconds, and I know deep down that I could have hit them if I would have ran harder," he said. "Every time I get into that tough part, I tell myself, you don't want to feel that way. You take that feeling, and you remember it when you fail."
That mindset has helped him continue to improve and stay resilient, no matter the circumstances.
While running is a major part of his life, Whitsell has other passions that keep him balanced. One of them is golf, a sport he picked up the summer after high school. "I couldn't hit the ball when I first started, but it was challenging," he said. "I ended up really, really enjoying the challenge of trying to get better at it."
Golf has become a way for him to spend time with family and unwind. "Now I play quite a bit when I go home," he said. "We're not out there being super competitive—we're just out there having a lot of fun."
He's also an avid reader, especially of fantasy and sci-fi books. "I really love to read," he said. "I just really love getting lost in a good book."
Family remains central to Whitsell's journey, especially his dad, who coached him in high school and continues to offer guidance. "My dad definitely is the person I've always looked up to, and he's definitely been the key piece in my success so far," he said. "I still call him if I've had a workout that I wasn't happy with, or maybe one of my races didn't go as well as I wanted, and we still talk about it."
He also draws inspiration from legendary runner Steve Prefontaine. "My favorite quote by him is, 'The best pace is a suicide pace, and today is a good day to die,'" Whitsell said. "He never raced in the back. He always raced in the front, and to him, it was all about winning and leaving everything out there."
For anyone hoping to compete at the Division I level, Whitsell's advice is simple: consistency. "Consistency is the biggest factor," he said. "Doing it every day with a purpose is what will contribute to your success." He also emphasizes the importance of recovery and taking care of your body. "You don't have to go out there and just put everything you have all out all the time, but you need to make sure that you're putting in that consistent level of effort—and in time it will be rewarded."
From a childhood surrounded by coaches and teammates to racing for Morehead State, Whitsell's journey is a testament to family, perseverance, and the simple joy of running."
