Willits Named Celia Barquin Arozamena Female Athlete of the Year

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State track and field's Sydney Willits has been named the 2024 Celia Barquin Arozamena Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year. Willits earned a national championship, two All-America honors and broke two school records during the 2024 season.

Entering NCAA Indoor Championships as the No. 12 seed in the long jump, Willits broke the indoor school record on her first attempt to take the lead through three jumps. After battling for the lead with the elite field in the final three rounds, Willits had one attempt remaining as she sat in second place. The junior responded with 22-1 1/2 (6.74m) to go back atop the leaderboard and take the national title, the first in the event in Iowa State history. Her performance led the Iowa State women to finish 20th in the nation.

The mark was the first over 22 feet in school history and improved her personal best by a full foot and topped the previous program record by six inches. Willits earned the 44th national title in program history and first by a woman since 2014. Following the championships, Willits earned USTFCCCA Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year.

Willits then turned to outdoor season, where she improved her regionals-qualifying mark in the long jump to take silver at Big 12 Championships with 21-3 1/4 (6.48m). The mark now ranks at No. 2 in Iowa State outdoor history. At NCAA West Prelims, Willits took third among the stacked West field with an all-conditions best 22-1 3/4w (6.65m). The junior ended her collegiate season with an 18th-place finish at NCAA Outdoor Championships for Honorable Mention All-America honors.

Willits ends her season with three All-Big 12 honors in the pentathlon, indoor long jump and outdoor long jump. The Glenview, Ill. native downed the pentathlon school record at Big 12 Indoor Championships to place fourth, while placing fifth in the long jump. Willits combined for nine team points competing in the five pentathlon events and the long jump in two days at indoor conference, and brought her season total to 17 team points after taking second in the outdoor long jump.

Willits totals three All-America honors and seven All-Big 12 honors through her career. The long jump specialist now moves to U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Celia Barquin Arozamena Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year Winners

1980 – Mary Seybold – Track & Field

1981 – Debbie Vetter – Track & Field

1982 – Annette Ackerson – Swimming

1983 – Tanya Roach – Swimming

1984 – Diane Doles – Volleyball

1985 – Tonya Burns – Basketball

1986 – Jane Lobenstein – Basketball

1987 – Nawal El Moutawakel – Track & Field

1988 – Linda Evans – Volleyball

1989 – Carmen Jaspers – Basketball

1990 – Jennie Condon – Softball

1991 – Jennifer Adams-Keitges – Swimming

1992 – Edith Nakiyingi – Track & Field

1993 – Karen Glerum – Track & Field

1994 – Melanie Young – Basketball

1995 – Kary Law – Volleyball

1996 – Beth Bader – Golf

1997 – Kim Mazza – Gymnastics

1998 – Stacy Frese – Basketball

1999 – Stacy Frese – Basketball

2000 – Stacy Frese – Basketball

2001 – Megan Taylor – Basketball

2002 – Angie Welle – Basketball

Gina Curtis-Rickert – Track & Field

2003 – Gina Curtis-Rickert – Track & Field

2004 – Janet Anson – Gymnastics

2005 – Anne O'Neil – Basketball

2006 – Janet Anson – Gymnastics

2007 – Lyndsey Medders – Basketball

2008 – Lisa Koll – Track/Cross Country

2009 – Kaylee Manns – Volleyball

2010 – Lisa Koll – Track/Cross Country

2011 – Kelsey Bolte – Basketball

2012 – Betsy Saina – Track/Cross Country

2013 – Betsy Saina – Track/Cross Country

2014 – Christina Hillman – Track & Field

2015 – Chonlada Chayanun – Golf

2016 – Caitlin Nolan – Volleyball

2017 – Jhoanmy Luque – Track & Field

2018 – Celia Barquin Arozamena – Golf

2019 – Bridget Carleton – Basketball

2020 – Callie Logue – Track/Cross Country

2021 – Sami Williams – Softball

2022 – Ashley Joens – Basketball

2023 – Ashley Joens – Basketball

2024 – Sydney Willits – Track & Field

Willits Named Celia Barquin Arozamena Female Athlete of the Year

Players Mentioned

Sydney Willits

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Iowa State University Athletics

Willits Named Celia Barquin Arozamena Female Athlete of the Year

Players Mentioned

Sydney Willits

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