Submitted photo: Fran and Barb Long of Fort Dodge stand with their granddaughter, Iowa State track standout Sydney Willits, after Willits was gifted an old family shirt for establishing her personal and school record in the long jump. Willits, a Cyclone junior, went on to win the women’s NCAA Indoor Track national championship in the event last week in Boston.

AMES — It all started, innocently enough, as a friendly side bet between a grandpa and his granddaughter.

Sydney Willits has always considered herself an elite competitor. Motivation has never been an issue for Iowa State’s junior All-American.

Yet when Fran Long of Fort Dodge offered Willits — the daughter of former Dodger Christie (Long) Willits — an added incentive, his eldest grandchild saw the NCAA Indoor Track Championships as the perfect opportunity to reach a whole new level.

Willits won a national title in the women’s long jump last Friday, exploding to the top of the bracket with a leap of 22 feet, 1.5 inches. The 12th seed entering the meet in Boston, Willits cleared her personal best mark by a full foot to edge friend and fellow standout Claire Bryant of Florida in the finals by 1.25 inches.

As a man of his word, Long — a former Cyclone track team member himself — gladly paid his debt, which was worth its weight in gold.

Iowa State Athletics photo by Jeff Spaur: Sydney Willits, the granddaughter of Fort Dodge's Fran and Barb Long and daugther of 1994 FDSH graduate Christie (Long) Willits, competes in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor National Meet in Boston. Willits won the event.

“I was painting at a house we are renovating (in Ames earlier this year), and I saw this old Iowa State vintage long-sleeve shirt that I thought was really cool,” Willits said. “Grandma (Barb Long) and grandpa have given me a lot of their vintage stuff (in the past) that I love to wear.

“This one had a twist. I was told (by Fran) that I had to jump 21-6 to get that shirt, which would be the school record (and over four inches better than Willits’ all-time best). I said, ‘OK, I can do that.'”

Willits came out of the box ready to make a name for herself at nationals. Her first attempt? A 21-6, right on the nose.

The school record, and the shirt, were all hers.

“My first jump at nationals, I earned that shirt,” Willits said. “And then almost every jump after that I had a new personal best. That was one of the first things I called and talked to grandpa about. It was a fun deal to have with him.”

Iowa State Athletics photo by Jeff Spaur: Sydney Willits, the granddaughter of Fort Dodge's Fran and Barb Long and daugther of 1994 FDSH graduate Christie (Long) Willits, stands at the top of the podium after winning the women's NCAA national indoor track title in the long jump.

Long, one of the sport’s most well-respected names and a long-time teacher at both Fort Dodge Senior High and St. Edmond, was “left kind of speechless” by his granddaughter’s performance.

“Realistically speaking, no one PRs by 12 inches in a single day in the long jump,” Long said. “If you asked me what my expectations were for Syd, I would have hoped to see her improve her personal best by two or three inches, place, and maybe make a push for (the school record).

“Now with that being said, she had (similar performances) in high school, where she proved she could exceed expectations and then some. She’s a gamer.”

THIRD-GENERATION CYCLONE

Willits was born in Cedar Rapids, but lived on both coasts as a young girl before her family moved back to the midwest. She eventually became an all-state athlete at Glenbrook South High in Glenview, Ill.

Submitted photo: Sydney Willits with her father, Ryan; mother, Christie, a 1994 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate; and Fort Dodge’s Fran and Barb Long.

“Sydney was actually a competitive gymnast through her sophomore year in high school,” Christie said. “She had always been out for track, but her (areas of expertise) were more with long jump and triple jump. (Running events) weren’t as much (at the forefront).”

The family legacy follows a different storyline. Fran set Iowa State’s indoor 400-yard school record and served as a team captain in 1971. Christie sprinted for the Dodgers in high school, then did the same at ISU from 1994-98.

Andy Long — Sydney’s uncle and Christie’s brother — blossomed into a star hurdler for the Cyclones from 1997-2001, establishing a new program best in the 60-meter hurdles that still stands to this day. Andy became an NCAA qualifier and all-Big 12 honoree, and in 1999, joined an Iowa State shuttle hurdle relay squad that set a Drake Relays record with the fastest time in the world.

Once Sydney decided collegiate track was her calling, she looked into several schools on both coasts. Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan and Michigan State were also showing serious interest.

COVID arrived in 2020, however, and changed everything.

“It had a big impact on both her (junior and senior seasons in high school) and how she was being recruited,” Christie remembered. “She’d just kind of slipped through the cracks communication-wise with certain coaches and programs. I know that at one point, dad (Fran) helped get her name out there a little more with all of his contacts (in the track community).”

Sydney ultimately decided she wanted to be a Cyclone. Christie and her husband, Ryan, first tried to play devil’s advocate rather than persuading her to follow in the family’s well-established Iowa State footsteps.

“We just wanted to make sure this was truly what she wanted,” Christie said. “Once she decided, she was all-in.”

AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT

It didn’t take long for Willits to make a name for herself at Iowa State. Not only did she succeed as an underclassman in the long jump last spring — securing second team All-American honors during the outdoor campaign and the Big 12 title at the indoor competition — but Willits also became one of the top heptathletes (seven events) and pentathletes (five) in school history. So in addition to her bread and butter — the long jump — Willits added the high jump, shot put, javelin, 100-meter hurdles, 200-meter run and 800-meter run to the equation for the heptathlon, as well as the high jump, shot put, 800 and 60-meter hurdles for the pentathlon.

Willits also showed a penchant for proving her doubters wrong. Despite spreading herself incredibly thin with a rugged schedule, Willits went from being the 30th seed in a field of 48 long jumpers at the NCAA West Prelims in 2023 to placing fourth. She then earned All-American status.

Willits’ junior year indoors, to date, has been more of the same and then some. She took fourth in the pentathlon at the Big 12 Championships last month before bursting onto the scene with her NCAA long jump title.

Willits admits she even surprised herself with the gold.

“I knew I was going to be able to have a big jump, but I didn’t know it was going to be at the national meet like that,” Willits said. “That was such a shock to me and my coaches, and honestly, everyone else, too.

“I came into the meet ranked 12th and ended up winning, which no one was expecting — not even myself.”

Willits took a great deal of pride in not only extending — but rewriting — the family record books.

“Accomplishing this meant so much,” Willits said. “The way the Iowa State program runs in our family made it even more amazing. Being able to wear Cyclone colors and do something like this for Iowa State was incredible.

“I wanted to do something memorable with my time here, and really, I’ve only just started my journey.”

Long added that he “couldn’t be more proud.”

“Traditionally speaking, Iowa State is known for being more of a distance school,” said Long, a 2018 Iowa Association of Track Officials John Lowry Distinguished Service Award winner who has also been named Iowa’s cross country official of the year (2006), boys track official of the year (2011) and girls track official of the year (2013). “This current coaching staff (led by director of track and field/cross country Jeremy Sudbury and coach Kurtis Brondyke, who was hired the same year Willits came to Iowa State) has done an outstanding job of also prioritizing sprinters and hurdlers.

“Of course I was hoping Syd would be a Cyclone, but more than anything, I wanted her to find the right spot. We’re all very thankful and confident in her decision to make a home at Iowa State.”

A TIME TO CELEBRATE

Word spread quickly after Willits captured her championship. She has been flattered by the reaction of Cyclone Nation and well-wishers from all over the country.

“Everything has been so positive,” Willits said. “So many people have congratulated me; it’s been super amazing to see of all the support. I’ve had coaches from other schools congratulate me as well, which has also been incredible — just seeing the track community come together like this.

“Cyclone fans are very excited. I’ve had people from the school email me and congratulate me, which is even more cool knowing people are following track and learning about the sport. At times, I’ve felt like track isn’t always talked about or seen as much as it could or should be.”

While Christie Willits was also surprised by her daughter’s achievement, she has “learned to never count her out” in moments like this.

“First of all, she’s way more competitive than I ever was — more along the lines of my dad and my brother when it comes to (the desire to win and prove doubters wrong),” Christie said. “She’s very focused and goal oriented. She does a lot with visualization, which I think is where her competitive gymnastics background works to her advantage.

“She pictures a lot of this happening (beforehand) and is very intrinsically motivated. Plus she has always shown (a penchant for) toughness, resilience and grit. We were going to ask her what her ‘goal’ was (before the national meet), but she doesn’t need any outside or extra motivation.”

The shirt? It didn’t hurt.

“That thing is old and torn — it’s really just a paint shirt,” Christie laughed. “But Syd saw it and immediately said she wanted it. So my dad dangles it in front of her to get her going. It became just this ‘added bonus.’ When she hit it with her first (attempt at nationals), we all erupted. And it just got better from there.”

The family believes Willits finds her drive from within. Sydney has a different take.

“I’ve learned to appreciate my time and the people I have surrounding me and supporting me,” Willits said. “I wanted to stay close to home because I’d be able to share these track memories and have (more family members) for moments like this.

“My mom and grandpa have always reminded me to be kind — always. Andy showed me how to work hard. He has a record at Iowa State, which is pretty cool knowing my uncle still (has that mark) at my school after all these years. My grandma and grandpa go to every meet they can…they’re always my cheerleaders, along with my aunt (Julie (Long) Nation), cousins, and siblings. And my dad spent countless hours helping me study long jump (technique) in high school, just trying to learn about what to do and how to do it.”

ALL TOGETHER

Fran Long knows he and Barb are “beyond blessed” to have all three of their children so close to home now. Christie and Ryan live in Urbandale with Sydney’s four younger siblings. Julie and her husband, Nick, are also in Urbandale with their five sons. Andy lives with his wife, Lindsey, and their two kids in Story City.

“All three kids (are in central Iowa). All 12 grandkids, too,” said Fran, who has lived with Barb in Fort Dodge for 53 years. “They are healthy and happy. We are extremely fortunate. To be able to spend time with them means the world to us. I’ve been lucky enough to serve as a starter for a lot of events that either Syd or (other grandchildren) have participated in.

“It’s really cool to see their interest in track, but also, other sports or activities. We have a front-row seat to it all.”

After living all over the country during different stages of her adult life, Christie is thankful to be back in Iowa. Her family purchased their home in the Waukee Northwest school district last summer.

“I just have so many great memories of growing up here,” said Christie, a 1994 FDSH graduate. “Living right by Dodger Stadium as a kid, running track in high school with Jill (Moser) and my other friends and being a part of that program for four years, qualifying for state and Drake…and even the disappointing moments, like missing my senior year (due to a torn ACL suffered during the powder puff football game in the fall). I had always planned on going to ISU, and running track was the goal. But I wasn’t sure it was possible after (the injury). They took me as a walk-on.

“It’s just amazing to be back, closer to mom and dad, (as well as) Julie and Andy and their families.”

Sydney also remembers Fort Dodge fondly.

“Some of my favorite memories there are of the Christmases we spent at grandma and grandpa’s in Fort Dodge,” Sydney said. “We would go sledding and open gifts as a family. It was also fun when my grandparents would take us to (FDSH) and see their classrooms. We’d play around with all the cool toys and chalk boards.”

Now, that little girl with the Long genes and Dodger roots has grown up to become a national champion.

The gold medal was the reward. Grandpa’s shirt? That’s the keepsake.