Some people might say becoming the first college runner ever to win the Boston Marathon is legendary runner Amby Burfoot’s ’68 greatest achievement. Others point to his two-time cross-country All-American honors and undefeated record in four years of dual races.

For Burfoot, all of these accomplishments pale in comparison to his induction into the Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame, which took place Friday evening in Beckham Hall.

“It’s just a thrill and an honor to come back here among people who I love, even if I don’t know them, but who I respect so much because of their being part of the Wesleyan community and to be honored by them,” Burfoot said after the ceremony.

Burfoot was one of nine inductees in the second Hall of Fame class, which included seven athletes, longtime coach Edgar Fauver, and the track and field teams of 1952-1955. In all, the class spanned 90 years of Wesleyan athletics, from Harry Van Surdam of the class of 1905 to Holly Sorensen ’95.

Located in the Warren Street lobby of the Freeman Athletic Center, the Athletics Hall of Fame features an informational touch-screen and plaques for each inductee. This class is the second to be inducted into the Hall of Fame; the inaugural class was inducted on May 23, 2008 during Reunion/Commencement Weekend.

Before a packed crowd in the University’s former gym, Burfoot spoke of the impact of coach Elmer Swanson during his four years in Middletown.

“He was the perfect coach for me,” Burfoot said of his mentor. “He was just about the most important [person] in my life at that time, because I was so passionate about running, and he was the guy there every day trying to steer me in the right direction. Elmer, I just can’t thank you enough for that. When I came up here, all I could think about was how fortunate I was to have such an incredible, solid, steadfast, dependable, always-in-my-corner, working-on-my-behalf coach for all those years.”

Rebounding standout Jim Akin ’72 was the evening’s first inductee. Akin holds the team record for rebounds in a game (28), season (331), and career (862)—a mark amassed in just three years, as freshmen were ineligible for varsity play during Akin’s time in Middletown. Akin was also a standout football and lacrosse player and was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Van Surdam, a quarterback who received All-New England honors in 1905, followed Akin. Following stints as a coach and with the Army during World War I, Van Surdam began a football officiating career that lasted 50 years, leading the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) to dub him the “Dean of College Football Officials” in 1963. Van Surdam was also a member of the track squad and received the University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award at his 60th reunion.

Jim Dresser ’63, chairman of the Board of Trustees, accepted the Hall of Fame medallion on behalf of Van Surdam, who passed away in 1982.

Longtime staff member Edgar “Doc” Fauver coached five sports during his time at the University: football, basketball, baseball, swimming and tennis. Fauver served as athletic director from 1911 to 1937 and also served as the University’s physician from 1911 until his death in 1946.

“[Fauver was] a revered figure at Wesleyan for his athletic administration, service and coaching,” said Athletic Director John Biddiscombe.

Fauver is also one of only two individuals to coach five sports at the University, the other being fellow Hall of Fame inductee Norm Daniels. Fauver’s son Alfred spoke on his behalf.

Amy Baltzell ’87 was a standout on the women’s crew squad during her four years at the University. Baltzell stroked the Wesleyan varsity eight to a gold medal at the Dad Vail Regatta during her senior year—her third year of varsity action after a year of novice rowing.

She qualified for the U.S. National Rowing Team in 1989 and 1990, and was a member of the U.S. Olympic team at the 1992 Barcelona games. Baltzell also experienced success in sailing, earning a spot on the America’s Cup A3 squad in 1995. In her acceptance speech, Baltzell named then-coach Pat Callahan as one of the most influential people in her life and likened finding out she had been voted into the Hall of Fame to receiving her acceptance letter from the University.

Allegra Burton ’87 became the first Wesleyan woman to earn NCAA All-America laurels in two sports in the same year. During her senior year, Burton finished eighth at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship (in her fourth appearance at the Championship) and third at the 5,000-meter event in her third appearance at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships. She finished third at the 1985 NCAA Cross Country Championship, the highest finish ever by a Wesleyan woman. In her acceptance speech, Burton spoke highly of her former coach.

“The four years I spent at Wesleyan, Elmer [Swanson] was probably the most important person in my life,” she said.

Amos Magee ’93 is currently the all-time leading scorer in Wesleyan men’s soccer history, with 35 goals and 87 points. Magee led the Cardinals to a 15-1-1 record in 1991, the best in team history, and helped Wesleyan defeat Williams to win the ECAC New England Division III title.

Magee played for the Minnesota Thunder of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division (then known as the A-League) from 1993-2004 and coached from 2003-2008, including one year as a player/assistant coach and a stint as head coach from 2006-2008. Magee also coached the U.S. to a gold medal in the Pan-American Maccabi Games—in international event for Jewish athletes held every four years—in January 2008. Magee’s squad included fellow Wesleyan men’s soccer alum Jared Ashe ’07.

“[Magee was] one of the greatest men’s soccer players in the history of the game at Wesleyan,” Biddiscombe said.

Holly Sorensen ’95 is, to date, Wesleyan’s only national champion in women’s swimming and diving. Sorensen, who transferred to Wesleyan from Indiana University as a sophomore, won the 200-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in 1994. Sorensen repeated her performance in the 500-yard free during her senior year, when Wesleyan hosted the Championships. Sorensen, who was inducted into the Greenwich Aquatic Hall of Fame in 2007, sees her decision to transfer to Wesleyan as the greatest thing she ever did.

Nine members of the 1952-55 track teams were on hand for the ceremony. The teams went 27-0-1 during the four seasons, with the one tie coming against Springfield in 1953. The team also defeated Trinity to end the 1951 season and begin the 1956 campaign, giving it a 30-meet unbeaten streak. Bill Gordon ’55 spoke on behalf of the teams.