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27 W hat she did in three seasons is impressive, but we'll never know how accomplished Jeanne Kruckeberg could have been with another year of healthy competition. A four-time All-American in women's cross country and track at the University of Iowa, Kruckeberg was one of six inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame's Class of 2014. Jerry Hassard, who coached Kruckeberg in cross country and track, will also be inducted. Kruckeberg earned three All-America honors during three NCAA indoor track seasons: e Hawkeyes were sixth in the 4x800-meter relay in 1987, Kruckeberg was sixth in the mile in 1988, and she was runner-up in the 800 in 1989. During the 1989 cross country season, Kruckeberg placed 10th at the NCAA Championships and the Hawkeyes finished eighth. Despite that success, the fact Kruckeberg had career- shortening surgery to her right Achilles tendon made her Hall of Fame honor a surprise...to no one but herself. "I'm kind of shocked," Kruckeberg said. "I look back at my career at Iowa and it was cut short because of in- jury. I was coming into my own before I was injured. I really had one year of success, so to me I am shocked." Even before the 1989 season — one Kruckeberg refers to as her "year of success" — there were highlights. As a freshman, Kruckeberg lettered in cross country, won the Big Ten Conference title in the 880-meter run, was runner-up in the Big Ten 1,000, and placed third in the Big Ten outdoor 1,500. As a sophomore she lettered in cross country and was sixth in the mile at the NCAA indoor championships. She is most proud of her finish at the national cross country meet the following fall. A native of Claremont, Minnesota, Kruckeberg attended Blooming Prairie High School, which did not offer cross country. During just her third year involved in the sport she placed 10th in the country at the NCAA Championships in Annap- olis, Maryland with a five kilometer time of 16:58.99. "I was pleased with how I came around at that dis- tance," Kruckeberg said. It took another twist — maybe even a twist of the arm — for Kruckeberg to become a runner. Her older sister competed in cross country when the family resided in Wells, Minnesota, so in seventh grade, Kruckeberg took to jogging as well. But as oen is the case with siblings, Kruckeberg didn't want to follow in her sister's shoe steps, opting instead to favor basketball. "I got involved in basketball and that I absolutely loved," Kruckeberg said. "I didn't want to do what my sister was doing. I didn't think about running track at all. It took the coach and my dad to convince me to try it. Basically they said, 'You're going out for it.' e rest is history." And Kruckeberg is still in the UI history books. More than two decades aer graduating, she holds school records in the distance medley relay (11:22.18 in 1989; Tami Hoskins, Beverly Powell, Kim Schneckloth) and 4x800 relay (8:46.45 in 1987; Sherri Suppelsa, Janet Wodek, Schneckloth). Kruckeberg is second in the indoor 800 (2:06.38) and mile (4:40.19). Her outdoor 1,500 best of 4:19.71 is third and her outdoor 800 time of 2:08.75 is sixth. Kruckeberg was near the top of her game at the 1989 Drake Relays, where she was named the meet's out- standing performer. She won the 1,500 run, anchored the Hawkeyes to victory in the distance medley relay, and just missed a third title when Iowa was runner-up to Louisiana State University in the 4x800 relay. "I got to share some good success at Drake," Krucke- berg said. "Whenever you win there you are happy about it." Her performance at Drake was one of many bright spots that season. Kruckenberg won a Big Ten champi- onship in the indoor 4x800 relay and was second in the 800 and mile. She was runner-up in the NCAA indoor 800. During outdoor, she was runner-up in the Big Ten 800 and 1,500. When shopping for future colleges, Kruckeberg found what she was looking for at the UI. "I felt comfortable with the girls I met on the recruit- ing trip that day," Kruckeberg said. "I felt at ease and I didn't find that anywhere else. I felt like I was home when I came to the University of Iowa." For the past 23 years Kruckeberg has taught English at Central Public Schools in Norwood Young America, Minnesota. She coached the Raider cross country team eight seasons and four in track and field.