Michigan and Michigan State Win Big Ten Cross Country Athlete of the Year Awards

ROSEMONT, ILL. (Nov. 27, 2023) – Michigan graduate student Tom Brady and Michigan State graduate student Katie Osika have been selected as the 2023 Big Ten Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Athletes of the Year through a vote of the Big Ten coaches, the conference announced

Brady becomes the ninth Wolverine to win the postseason award, following Devin Meyrer who won in 2020. A native of Park Ridge, Illinois, Brady finished 27th at the NCAA Championships (29:37.1), making him the only Big Ten runner to finish in the top 30. His performance helped the Wolverines to a nineteenth-place finish in the team standings. Brady also placed third at the 2023 Big Ten Championships (24:18.9).

Collecting an All-America honor at the NCAA Championships, All-Region honors and first-team All-Big Ten honors this season, Brady is majoring in computer science and engineering. He now turns his attention to the indoor track & field season where he finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships in the 3,000 meters.

Osika becomes the seventh Michigan State student athlete to earn the Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year award, nine years after the last winner, Leah O’Conner (2014).

Originally from Waterford, Michigan, Osika earned an All-American honor at the NCAA Championships, All-Region honors, first-team All-Big Ten, as well as a USTFCCCA athlete of the week honors (Sept. 18, 2023).

At the NCAA Championships, Osika placed 30th (20:02.8), the only Big Ten athlete that finished in the top 30. Her performance led Michigan State to a 16th-place finish as a team. Osika also placed fourth at the 2023 Big Ten Cross Country Championships, clocking in at 21:05.1.

Monday’s announcement concludes the 2023 Big Ten cross country season.