Osika Awarded National Cross Country Athlete of the Week

EAST LANSING, MICH. - Grad-senior Katie Osika was named NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Monday, the first Spartan to be tabbed with the honor since Rachele Schulist on Sept. 9, 2014.

"It means a lot for me and my team, this is my last cross country season as a Spartan so getting to be recognized nationally is a huge accomplishment," Osika said.

Osika opened her season with her first collegiate cross country race win on home territory on Friday Sept. 15 at the Spartan Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance at Forest Akers East Golf Course. The Waterford, Mich. native finished eight seconds ahead of the competition in the women's 6K with a time of 20:54.3. She had landed on the podium three times in her All-American season last time out in 2022; a third place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with a 6K personal best of 20:04.4, second at the Big Ten Championships and second at 2022's edition of the Spartan Invitational.

"I've never broken the tape before at a meet so I was thrilled to do it at Spartan Invitational on our home course with friends and family supporting," Osika said. "I was lucky to race side-by-side with my training partners and their encouraging words throughout the race inspired me to push a little harder at the end."

The victory helped the defending Big Ten champion women to a victory of their own at the Spartan Invitational presented by Auto-Owner's Insurance, their first win of the 2023 season. The win moved MSU up one spot in the NCAA Great Lakes Region to No. 2, the highest-ranked Big Ten team in any region.

Osika and the Spartans will race next at the Virginia Inviational in Charlottesville, Va. on Saturday, Sept. 23 in what Osika described as a preview for Nationals.

Players Mentioned

Katie Osika

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