Karissa Schweizer
![]() Schweizer (left) at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships West preliminary rounds | |||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationality | ![]() | ||||||||
Born | May 4, 1996 | ||||||||
Height | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | ||||||||
Sport | |||||||||
Country | United States | ||||||||
Sport | Track, long-distance running | ||||||||
Event(s) | 1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m, cross country, 10,000 m | ||||||||
College team | Missouri | ||||||||
Turned pro | 2018 | ||||||||
Coached by | Marc Burns | ||||||||
Achievements and titles | |||||||||
Personal bests |
| ||||||||
Medal record
|
Karissa Schweizer (born May 4, 1996) is an American middle- and long-distance runner. Representing the University of Missouri, she won the 2016 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships and holds five other NCAA individual championship titles in track and field. Schweizer is the current American collegiate record-holder for 3000 m with a time of 8:41.60, set at the 2018 Millrose Games.[1][2] She has been labeled the most decorated female athlete in University of Missouri history.[3]
Early Life
Schweizer was raised in Urbandale, Iowa, the granddaughter of Frank Schweizer, an NCAA Division II All-American runner at Mankato State, who coached track at Dowling Catholic High School, for over four decades. Mike, Steve and Doug, the three sons of Frank and Linda Schweizer ran for Dowling. Mike also earned All-American honors at Mankato and there met his future wife, Kathy Petricka, a Mankato runner who also has coached. Their children, the youngest, Kelsey, Ryan and Karissa, ran for Dowling as well. Ryan who now competes for Notre Dame won eight state championships, including a swimming title, while at Dowling, A 3:49.04 1500m PR earned him a 3rd at the 2017 USA Track and Field Junior championships in June 2017. Steve's children also ran cross country, Alexis competing for Dowling.[4][5]
Career
Karissa never won an individual state or national cross country title while at Dowling, never qualified for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, and her only track title was for 3000 m at the 2011 IAHSAA championships.[6][7]
Recruited to the University of Missouri for track and cross country in 2014, Schweizer's first NCAA championship appearance was at the 2014 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, where she finished 155th.[8] Two years later, she qualified for and placed third in the 5000 m at the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[9]
The following cross country season, Schweizer was not considered a favorite for the individual NCAA title.[10] Despite this, Schweizer defeated favorites Erin Finn and Anna Rohrer to win the 6 kilometer race in 19:41.6, becoming the first female national champion in any sport in Missouri Tigers history.[10][11]
Schweizer ran the 3000 m and 5000 m at the next 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, finishing second and first respectively.[9] At the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Schweizer ran 15:39.93 in the 5000 m to win her third national collegiate title.[12]
Despite victories at the 2017 NCAA Midwest Region and Southeastern Conference cross country championships, Schweizer did not repeat her win at the 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, finishing 11th.[9] That following indoor season, she completed her first title defense by winning the 5000 m at the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, in addition to a 3000 m victory.[13]
It was also at this time that Schweizer began competing at higher-profile invitational meets. At the 2018 Dr. Sander Invitational at the Armory Track & Field Center, Schweizer finished third in a international open mile field, her time of 4:27.54 placing her among the top five collegians all-time indoors.[14] Later that season at the Millrose Games, Schweizer set the American collegiate record in the 3000 m with a time of 8:41.60, her time beating Olympic medalist Jenny Simpson's previous record by one second.[1][15] In the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Schweizer ran 32:14.94 in the 10000 m to finish third, twelve seconds under the existing meet record, set by Sylvia Mosqueda thirty years earlier.[16] Two days later, after leading most of race, she easily repeated her 2017 5,000 meter win, closing out her remarkable college career with her sixth NCAA outdoor championship and NCAA indoor championship gold, a silver and two bronze medals.[17]
Major international competitions
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Millrose Games | New York, New York | 4th | 3000m | 8:41.60 |
Domestic competitions
References
- ^ a b "As collegiate career ends, Karissa Schweizer reigns as most decorated Missouri athlete in school history".
- ^ "Women's track and field: Missouri's Karissa Schweizer sets 3,000m collegiate record at Millrose Games".
- ^ "Q&A: National champion Karissa Schweizer continues to impress".
- ^ Iowa's Schweizer family: Three generations of cross country at Dowling and running strong, Des Moines Register, John Naughton, September 22, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ Ryan Schweizer, Track and Field Results Reporting System. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ "The Progression of Surprise NCAA Champion Karissa Schweizer".
- ^ "Karissa Schweizer - 2018 Track & Field Roster - University of Missouri".
- ^ "2014 NCAA Division I Cross Country - 11/22/2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-08.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Karissa Schweizer profile at TFRRS
- ^ a b "8 Things to Know About the Surprise Women's College Cross-Country Champion".
- ^ "Mizzou's Karissa Schweizer wins NCAA cross country championship".
- ^ "Mizzou's Karissa Schweizer dominates NCAA 5K for third national title".
- ^ "Favorites Justyn Knight and Karissa Schweizer Win 2018 NCAA Indoor 5000 Crowns".
- ^ "Q&A with NCAA Champion Karissa Schweizer on the 5,000m, Injuries and Career Outlook".
- ^ "Schweizer Sets Collegiate Record in 3000m Run at Millrose Games".
- ^ Iowan Karissa Schweizer places third in 10,000-meter race at NCAA Championships, Des Moines Register, June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ Mizzou's Schweizer goes out on top, captures sixth national title, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dave Matter, June 9, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Karissa Schweizer at Tilastopaja (registration required)