Emmie Long named 2025 Champion Award Recipient
Charlotte, NC - The NJCAA Foundation has announced the 2025 Champion Award recipient as Enterprise State Community College women’s cross country runner, Emmie Long. This prestigious award will be presented during the NJCAA Foundation Awards event presented by Nufabrx held on Tuesday, June 17 at the Hilton Charlotte University Place at 6:30 PM ET. The event will recognize the NJCAA Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Lea Plarski Award winner, the Champion Award winners, and the Difference Maker Award winner, and the 2025 Class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame.
The Champion Award was established to honor a member or former member of the NJCAA community who exemplifies resilience, excellence, and passion.
Emmie Long was in the beginning of her freshman cross country season at Enterprise State Community College (AL) in the fall of 2024, still finding her rhythm and setting goals for the season. The Boll Weevils geared up for the second meet of the season at the Montevallo Falcon Classic in Montevallo, Alabama, on September 6. During the second loop of the race, Long encountered a fellow competitor writhing in pain on the ground. For Long, it was almost instinctual to stop and check on the runner to see if she needed assistance.
“I didn’t really think about it too much,” Long explained. “During races you often see people going off to the side or still running but crying because they’re in pain. I had never seen anybody lying on the side of the course screaming, so it was alarming. It felt like it was a worse injury than others I had seen.”
Situated on an isolated section of the course, Long was unsure how to find help. The injured runner was unable to move due to pain in her back. The emergency responders were at the finish line, but Long was closer to the starting area, so she ran back and found athletes not competing to come help. Once Long felt comfortable the injured runner would be taken care of, she continued her race.
“I did what I thought was right in the moment which was to immediately get help,” Long shared.
Once Long finished the race with a time of 28:00, she was feeling mixed emotions. Before stopping, Long was on pace for a sub-25-minute finish which would have been her best official time for the Boll Weevils. Although she did not reach her target time, Long knew some things are bigger than sports and that helping the injured runner was the right decision. Long’s coach, Christopher Christian, reassured her that there were more races in the season to accomplish her goals. Some of Long’s Enterprise State teammates also provided words of encouragement.
“It definitely makes me think about small actions,” Long commented. “I would stop again for somebody in the same amount of pain. I would also find a better way to get help since I wasn’t very efficient.”
Throughout the 2024 cross country season, Long continued to improve her times, ultimately running a sub-24-minute race.
When asked about what it means to receive the Champion Award, Long said, “When I was first told, I was surprised, but it means a lot to me, and I was so excited to tell my family about it.”
To learn more regarding the NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards presented by Nufabrx, visit: NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards
About NJCAA Foundation
Since 2018, the NJCAA Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, has funded scholarships, community programs, and national awards for the association's student-athletes, member colleges, and administrators.
The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.