GENEVA — Nick Edinger is through running for Geneva College, but the Mars graduate is far from ending his running career.

The legacy he established at Geneva won't be going away anytime soon, either.

Edinger graduated from Geneva holding the school record in the 8K for cross country, along with Golden Tornado marks in the indoor and outdoor 5K, indoor 3K and outdoor 10K in track and field.

“I was only an average runner in high school, if that,” Edinger said. “My times were very ordinary.”

In college, he became extraordinary — through running and running and running some more.

“The more miles I put on, the better I got,” Edinger said.

He ran approximately 30 miles per week in high school. Once he got to Geneva, Edinger began running 60 miles a week. That figure climbed to 120 miles a week by his senior year.

It was all a part of the individualized running instruction provided by Geneva cross country and track coach Brian Yowler.

“Every runner is different in how he responds to training,” Edinger said. “For me, it was high mileage all year round.”

Edinger's body never broke down. In fact, he was never injured.

“Nick put on more miles than any runner I've ever had, yet he has never been injured,” Yowler said. “When we recruited him, we knew he had potential. But he had never qualified for the state meet in high school.

“His high school times were solid, not great, and I've had guys with more talent than Nick. Nick had the willingness to do things other runners won't do, though, like train rigorously on his own, all year.

“He is incredibly dedicated to this sport,” Fowler added.

That's “is” — as in present.

Edinger shattered Geneva's 8K cross country mark by running a meet in 24 minutes, 23 seconds. The previous record was 25:55.

He said that's the record he's proudest of.

“I haven't scaled back at all since I graduated college,” Edinger said. “I love running and I don't want to give it up.

“I'm training to run the Philadelphia Half-Marathon in the fall and I want to qualify for the Olympic (marathon) Trials in 2016.”

Fowler can see that happening.

“He's got the ability and he's got the drive,” the coach said. “The big thing with a distance runner is staying healthy and he's got that, too.

“Nick has gone beyond what any other runner at Geneva has ever done. There's no reason to believe that can't continue.”

Geneva's No. 1 runner since his freshman year, Edinger won 30 of the 31 cross country races he competed in for the college. He was an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete all four years and became Geneva's first runner — and second athlete ever — to be named to the NCAA Division III All-Academic Team.

Edinger's grade point average stayed above 3.4 his entire career at Geneva.

“The more I ran, the better my grades got in school,” Edinger said. “It's an example of lessons you learn from sport.

“Determination and work ethic apply to other aspects in my life. It carried over to my academics just like it will carry over when I have my own family, and to my faith.

“That's the beauty of sports,” he added.

Edinger was Presidents' Athletic Conference 5K champion in track and field in 2012, becoming Geneva's first PAC champion in track. He finished runner-up in the conference 10K that same year.

Last month, Edinger won the 5-mile portion of the Butler Road Race — as part of his training.

“That was a good rust-buster,” he said. “It got my lungs open, my legs moving, my summer training going.

“Runners reach their top shape in late spring and late fall. I ran the Butler Road Race in 26:10. I ran that distance in 24:23 at Geneva.”

So it goes with Edinger, who plans to run a marathon in two years.

“We pushed the limits with him more than any other runner and he always responded,” Yowler said. “And he always responds when he pushes himself.”