Willits Named Cyclone Club Student-Athlete of the Week

AMES, Iowa - Sydney Willits has been named the Cyclone Club Athlete of the Week after winning the NCAA Long Jump national title in record fashion.

Despite entering nationals at the No. 12 seed, Willits improved her previous best by a full foot, also downing the school record by six inches with her title-winning mark of 22-1 1/2 (6.74m). Willits becomes the first long jump national champion and 44th total in Iowa State history. She is also the first ISU champion since 2021. Her title led the Iowa State women to a 20th-place team finish in the nation.

The multi-event athlete put together a remarkable season taking down both the long jump and pentathlon school records. At Big 12 Championships, the multi-event athlete took fourth in the pentathlon with her program record of 4,085 while competing in the long jump the same day to finish fifth, combining for nine team points. Willits also nearly qualified for nationals with her pentathlon best, ranking 20th in the nation.

The two-time All-American now holds top 10 program marks in seven indoor and outdoor events with five in the top five throughout the long jump, pentathlon, heptathlon, 200m dash, 60m hurdles, and 4x100m relay.

About the Cyclone Club
The Cyclone Club spearheads the fundraising efforts for the Iowa State Athletic department and gifts of all sizes directly impact the lives of over 450 student-athletes at Iowa State. Annual Cyclone Club gifts provide ISU student-athletes the opportunity to compete in their sport at the highest level, while preparing them to utilize their Iowa State degree once their athletic careers have concluded. Iowa State Athletics does not receive any State or University funding to operate, thereby making it one of the nation's only financially self-sufficient athletic programs.

For more information and to join the Cyclone Club, visit cycloneclub.org.