Shannon Osika (born 15 June 1993) is an Americanmiddle-distance runner specializing in the1500 metres. She is a four-timeoutdoor and three-timeindoor USA Championships finalist, and she was the silver medalist at the2018 NACAC Championships. She briefly held the world record in thedistance medley relay in 2022.
Osika is fromWaterford, Michigan where she attendedMott High School and was aMichigan High School Athletic Association Division I cross country champion.[2][3][4] Her parents, P.J. Osika and Andrea Bowman, were collegiate milers atEastern Michigan University and they competed at the1988 United States Olympic trials.[5][6]
Halfway through the 2011–2012 season, Osika enrolled atMichigan University,[7] where she competed on theMichigan Wolverines track and field team until 2015 under coach Mike McGuire—who also coached her parents in the 1980s.[2][7] While at Michigan, Osika ran five NCAA national track finals and two cross country national races, with a best finish of 3rd at the2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships distance medley relay.[1][8] At the2012 NACAC Cross Country Championships, Osika competed in the U20 race and won the race for the United States, leading her team to a victory over Canada as well.[9]
Osika achieved her first national top-three finish in the 1500 m at the2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, behindShelby Houlihan andColleen Quigley.[10] Although the United States could only send two athletes to compete at the2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships, Houlihan had initially stated she would only run the3000 metres at the world championships, opening up a spot for Osika to run at her first track and field world championship.[10] However, Houlihan later decided to run in both events, blocking out Osika from the spot.[11] During the outdoor season, Osika was selected for the2018 NACAC Championships team, where she won a silver medal in the 1500 m.[12]
In 2019, Osika was selected to run on themixed 4 × 1 km relay at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships. Running second leg, the team finished 4th behind Ethiopia, Morocco, and Kenya.[13]
At the2021 United States Olympic trials, Osika qualified for the finals of the 1500 m and placed fourth, just outside the top-three to be selected for the2021 U.S. Olympic team.[1]
On 11 February 2022, Osika was part of the NikeUnion Athletics Club team that set anindoor world record in thedistance medley relay, with a time of 10:39.91 at the Lilac Grand Prix.[5] The record was only briefly held, as it was overtaken by New Balance running 10:33 on 15 April later that year.[14]
Osika is sponsored byNike, Inc.[1]
| Event | Mark | Place | Competition | Venue | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 metres | 4:00.73 |  | USATF Golden Games | Walnut, California | 9 May 2021 | [1] |
| Mile run | 4:24.19sh | 5th | Wanamaker Mile | New York City | 29 January 2022 | [1] |
Media related toShannon Osika at Wikimedia Commons
