The Iowa State University Women's Cross Country program began in 1973. The early years of the program proved to be very successful. Iowa State won eight Big 8 Conference Championships (1975-1979, 1981, 1983, 1990), two U.S. Federation Championships (1973-1974), and five National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Championships (1975-1978, 1981).

Iowa State dedicated its cross country course, located north of Mortensen Road and west of the Towers Dormitories, in 1995. The course was the first in the United States that was designed exclusively for competitive cross country racing.

Head coaches:

• Chris Murray (1972-1979)
• Ron Renko (1979-1985)
• Bill Bergan (1986)
• Dick Lee (1987-2007)
• Corey Ihmels (2007-present)

The collection (1974-[ongoing]) contains news clippings, media guides, event programs, a list of qualifiers and results from a national competition, and a student-written history of the 1992 season. The collection also includes extensive news clippings regarding the 1985 plane crash, the subsequent investigation, and numerous remembrances and memorials.