Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina rookie sprinter Ethan Long was today named Southern Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, adding to the strong finish to the 2025 outdoor track and field season for the Catamounts.

A product of Lakeside Park, Ky., Long shares the title with Samford's Bryce Davis as the conference named co-freshmen of the year for the first time since the award was first distributed in 1992. Long is the ninth Catamount to earn the award all-time, and the first since Devaniel Dale took home top rookie honors in 2017.

The standout freshman helped push the Catamounts to a second-place finish on the men's side as the team collected 175 points at the champion-crowning meet, its highest total since winning the title with 186 in 2019. Long directly contributed to 22 of the team's points, earning second-place finishes in the 100m (10.49s) and the 200m (21.17s) sprints and running the anchor leg of WCU's second-place finishing 4x100m (41.22s) relay team. 

The award is the second major honor of Long's young career in Cullowhee. The standout sprinter was named the Heath Whittle Award winner for the men's Most Outstanding Athlete following a 20-point effort at the indoor championships in March. Long took the individual championship in the men's 200m and took second in the 60m before running his leg of the 4x100m relay, helping take second in the event in the indoor season as well. 

Long is expected to compete along with a handful of other Catamounts at the Dani Palooza Last Chance meet hosted by High Point, as he looks to make a final push for an NCAA East Regional appearance. 

WCU's All-Time Freshman of the Year Winners:

2025 – Ethan Long

2017 – Devaniel Dale

2011 – Aaron Tribble

2009 – Jamie Van Pelt

2007 – Dominique Young

2005 – Zeb Johnson

2003 – John Robertson

2001 – Nick McNeil

1997 – Tim Thomas