WEEROONA College teacher Gary Schroeder has been recognised for his cross country achievements earlier this year, when he was inducted into the Valpariso University Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Schroeder and four of his college peers were part of the 18th class in the American school history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
He said it came as a shock.
“It came as a massive surprise,” Schroeder said.
"I didn't expect to be in consideration for the Hall of Fame.
It came as a massive surprise. I didn't expect to be in consideration for the Hall of Fame.
- Gary Schroeder
“Previously the people who have entered the hall of fame have included ex-Olympic athletes and those who have become professionals.
“I just broke a few records back in the 1970’s.”
Schroeder went to the Indiana school between 1970 and 1974 and was a standout athlete in the Crusaders cross country and track and field teams.
He was named the Indiana Collegiate Conference cross country Runner of the Year in 1970 after winning the conference championship, and finished runner-up at the ICC Cross Country Championship in 1972.
Schroeder also progressed through to the NCAA Championships in 1971 and finished in 10th place in the six mile run.
Schroeder also set Crusader records indoors in the two mile and three mile runs.
Four decades on and he still ranks second in the program’s history in the 10,000m run and is also second all-time at VALPO in cross country at the 8km distance.
Schroeder said he went back to his old school as part of the Hall of Fame celebrations.
"It was a surreal feeling to go back there," he said.
"A lot has changed since the 1970's.
"The facilities they have there now are second to none."
After completing his university degree, Schroeder came to Australia and has never looked back.
“I left university and went into business, I never really got back into the sport,” he said.
Schroeder has been teaching with Weeroona College for about 26 years.