Women's Cross Country

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

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Molly Heidorn has been named recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
Heidorn, a senior from Colfax, Wis. (Colfax), is majoring in speech language hearing sciences and sustains a 3.99 grade point average. In 2024 and 2025, she received NCAA Division III All-Academic distinction from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Heidorn was named to the 2025 and 2026 College Sports Communicators NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field Team. She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been recognized on UW-Eau Claire’s Dean’s List numerous semesters, while also receiving academic scholarships.
 
A year ago, Heidorn won the WIAC individual championship, was tabbed the WIAC Athlete of the Year and earned All-America recognition with a 31st-place finish at the NCAA Division III championship. She is a two-time All-Region performer (2024, 2025) and added All-WIAC Second Team honors in 2024. A team captain this season, Heidorn was named the team’s Most Valuable in 2025 and Most Improved in 2024.
 
Heidorn has served as secretary of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Sciences Organization. She is also a member of the Operation Smile Organization and UW-Eau Claire Cross Country and Track & Field Bible Studies. Heidorn has volunteered as a speech language pathologist at a local elementary school and the Boys & Girls Club.
 
Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-La Crosse’s Lillith Higgins (Sr., Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH); UW-Oshkosh’s Allison VanDerWegen (Sr., Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna); UW-River Falls’ Laina Viere (Sr., Richmond, Minn./Rocori); UW-Stevens Point’s Judith Meister (Sr., Darlington, Wis./Darlington); UW-Stout Polytechnic’s Claudia Lasiowski (Sr., Park Falls, Wis./Chequamegon); and UW-Whitewater’s Ella Hansen (Sr., Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee).
 
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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