UW-Eau Claire’s Long Named Judy Kruckman Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Naomi Long has been named the recipient of the 2022 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Award.

Long, a senior from Medina, Minn. (Wayzata), is double-majoring in elementary education and special education with a certification in emotional behavior disorder. She maintains a 3.81 grade point average and secured a spot on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-America Team in 2019 and 2021. Long is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has appeared on UW-Eau Claire’s Dean’s List numerous semesters.

A team captain this season, Long placed 12th at the WIAC championship to secure All-WIAC second team honors – it was her fourth career All-WIAC award. She was a first team recipient in 2019, second team member in 2018 and honorable mention performer in 2021. Long is a two-time All-Region honoree, finishing 18th at the regional event in 2019, and 21st in 2021. She helped the Blugolds claim back-to-back WIAC titles in 2018 and 2019, and register a fourth-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Division III Championship.

Long is a member of UW-Eau Claire’s Multicultural Student Services Club and an advisee of the Latinx and Native American Club. She has worked as a behavioral technician for younger children with autism in the Wisconsin Early Autism Project, as well as a caretaker for a non-verbal disabled adult through ILIFE program. Long has served as a case manager at Chippewa Valley Family Promise Beacon House Homeless Shelter.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse’s Charlotte Mueller (Jr., Clinton, Wis./Clinton); UW-Oshkosh’s Sydney Fricke (Sr., Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli); UW-River Falls’ Cailyn Kuechle (Jr., South Haven, Minn./Kimball); UW-Stevens Point’s Brooke Wellhausen (Sr., Williams Bay, Wis./Big Foot); UW-Stout’s Dalie Thomas (Jr., Merrill, Wis./Merrill); and UW-Whitewater’s Paige Fassbender (Jr., Slinger, Wis./Slinger).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman, who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October 1984 - September 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84, and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.

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