Heidelberg University Athletics

On November 17, 2001, Melissa Troyer Schultz toed the starting line at the NCAA Division III National Championship in women’s cross country.  That moment, surrounded by the best cross country runners in the nation, remains her favorite experience from her time at Heidelberg.  She clocked a time of 18:29 to finish 88th, the best finish on the national stage by a ’Berg runner at that time.

To date, Schultz remains one of the most highly decorated distance runners in Heidelberg history.  She was an all-region and All-OAC first-team performer four times (1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002), the only runner in program history to accomplish the feats.  

Her personal record -- set on that day in November of 2001 -- is tied for the third-fastest 5K time in program history.

In track, Schultz was the indoor OAC champion in the 5,000m run during the 2000 conference meet and finished on the podium in the same event in 2001. During the outdoor season, she earned All-OAC honors in the 10,000m run in 2001.  

After graduating from Heidelberg in 2003, Schultz and her husband, Jacob ‘03 have lived in four different states.  The couple currently resides in Kentucky with their two teenage sons, Jacob and Shane.  Still an avid runner, Schultz works for her local school district.