Cruciata represented Italy in the 1500 metres at the 1974 European Athletics Championships, but was eliminated in the heats. She made her only Olympic appearance at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, and was again knocked out in the heats stage of the 1500 m. She was fifth in the final over 1500 m at the 1978 European Athletics Indoor Championships. She won a number of national titles in this period, taking the 3000 metres Italian title in 1975, a 3000 m/1500 m indoor double in 1978, and both the 3000 m and marathon titles in 1981. She was the bronze medallist over 3000 m at the 1981 IAAF World Cup.