Completed Event: Cross Country versus Cyclone Preview on August 29, 2025 , , Men: 1st, Women: 1st
Final
Cross Country
Cyclone Preview
Men: 1st, Women: 1st
Iowa State University Athletics
Laura Harmon Joins Iowa State as Head Women's Cross Country/Assistant Track Coach
06.14.2026 | Cross Country, Track and Field
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State director of track and field/cross country Jeremy Sudbury has announced the addition of women's cross country head coach/assistant track coach Laura Harmon to the Cyclone staff. Harmon spent the last four seasons in a similar role at Washington State.
"This is an exciting day for Iowa State Cross Country and Track & Field," said Sudbury. "Laura Harmon has established herself as one of the brightest and most respected distance coaches in the country, and we are thrilled to welcome her and her family to our community of Ames."
"I am thrilled to join Iowa State University and lead a women's cross country program with a proud tradition of success," said Harmon. "The opportunity to partner with Coach Sudbury and the Iowa State staff was a major factor in my decision. Our visions for the future of Iowa State cross country and track & field align exceptionally well, and our partnership is a natural fit. Together, we will build on an outstanding foundation, provide an exceptional experience for our student-athletes, and pursue the goal of becoming a national championship contender."
The Iowa State women have enjoyed much success on the grass, making 14 NCAA Cross Country Championships appearances in the last 17 seasons. In 2025, Betty Kipkore (15th) and Mercy Kibet (20th) earned All-America status at the national meet to lead ISU to a top 20 team finish. Mercyline Kirwa stunned the distance community Thursday night at the NCAA Outdoor Championships as she used a 61-second final lap to take down two-time NCAA champion Pamela Kosgei and two-time NCAA champion and collegiate record holder Jane Hedengren to win the women's 10K in 31:54.88. Kirwa is the third woman in program history to win the event while it is the fourth total event title in program history and first since Betsy Saina won the 10K in 2013. Kipkore also finished on the podium with Kirwa, crossing the line in fourth for First Team All-America honors. The performance helped ISU secure a sixth place team finish in Eugene, the program's best finish at the outdoor championships. Kibet, Kipkore and Kirwa are all underclassmen, part of the promising future for the Cyclone women's distance group.
"Iowa State has a proud history of producing elite distance runners and competing on the national stage, and we believe Laura is the ideal person to help write the next chapter of that story," said Sudbury. "The future of our women's cross country program is incredible bright, and we can't wait to see what's ahead."
Harmon continues a decorated 21-year coaching career that includes multiple high school team state championships in both cross country and track, numerous NCAA All-Americans and multiple conference champions. The 2025 West Coast Conference (WCC) Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year helped the Cougar women to their first conference championship in program history. The women also qualified for the national championship meet after an impressive performance at the NCAA West Regional for just the third time in program history. Harmon led WSU freshman Rosemary Longisa to five meet wins, including the WCC Championships and West Regionals.
In 2024, Harmon helped Zenah Cheptoo to a 47th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, just missing all-America status as the program's first national championships qualifier since the 2020 season (March 15, 2021).
On the track, Harmon coached Longisa (800m, Mile) and Cheptoo (3,000m, 5,000m) to indoor program records in 2026 while Longisa also secured school bests in the 800m and 1,500m during the outdoor season. Cheptoo is the 5K outdoor record holder under Harmon's tutelage while Caroline Jerotich secured the program's top steeplechase in Harmon's first season at the helm (2023).
Prior to Washington State, Harmon spent one season as the head cross country/ track & field coach at one of her alma maters, Jesuit HS, where she also got her coaching start as an assistant back in 2005.
Before Jesuit HS, Harmon was the Director of Women's and Men's Cross Country/Track and Field at University of Minnesota Duluth. Her student-athletes found postseason success, including a NCAA Division II National champion in the 60-meter hurdles and multiple All-Americans. She had previously helped re-instate the women's cross country/track & field programs at Sierra College where she served as the Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach for two years. Harmon also served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology at Sierra College.
Her first collegiate coaching conference was across the Pac-12 at Oregon State where she was and assistant cross country/track and field coach from 2011-14 before taking her first head coaching gig as the head cross country/assistant track & field coach at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth Texas. Her first Division I head coaching role came just one year later when she took over as the head cross country/track & field coach and recruiting coordinator at Sacramento State University in August of 2015.
As a runner, Harmon was a two-time team captain on the University of Oregon cross country and track & field teams, where she graduated with a bachelors in psychology in 2005. Harmon's decorated competitive career included one NCAA Cross Country All-American nod, two second-team All-American Academic selections, and four NCAA Regional appearances in the 1500m and 5000m. Harmon later went on to complete her Master's of Kinesiology with a focus on physical education at Fresno Pacific University, graduating in 2018.
Players Mentioned
Monday, November 11
Tuesday, November 14
Monday, October 31
Monday, November 01
