Staff Directory

Katie Osika

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:

Iowa State named Katie Osika the assistant women's distance coach in July 2025 for the track & field/cross country programs.

In Osika's first season with the Cyclones, the women's distance crew the coach assists with had six individual NCAA podium finishes. Mercyline Kirwa won the NCAA 10,000m title and finished runner-up in the 5,000m, while Betty Kipkore took fourth in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. The finishes aided in the Iowa State women finishing sixth at 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships for the highest women's finish in program history. In the 2026 XC season, the women finished 20th nationally and had two All-Americans.

Osika comes to Ames with a wealth of experience running at a high level. The distance runner competed at Michigan State from 2018-24 where she became a two-time All-American in cross country and three-time NCAA East Prelims qualifier on the track.

In her final cross country season in 2023, Osika earned the honor of Big Ten Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year. At NCAA XC Championships, Osika ran to All-America honors putting up a 30th-place finish in 2023 and 33rd in 2022. She took fourth in 2023 and second in 2022 at conference, leading MSU to the Big 10 team title both years.

On the track, Osika advanced to NCAA East Prelims three-straight seasons, qualifying in the 5K in 2024 and the 1,500m in 2023 and 2022. She was a four-time Big Ten medalist through the mile and 1,500m, highlighted by a silver medal in the 1,500m in 2023 and bronze in the mile in 2022. Osika also anchored the DMR and 4x1,500m to program records. She ran PRs of 15:39.01 in the 5K, 4:38.35 in the mile and 4:15.94 in the 1,500m.

Osika is a Waterford, Mich. native.