Schweizer Sets School Record, Wins USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week
12/6/2016 12:14:00 PM | Track & Field
NCAA Cross Country National Champion shatters 16-year old school record
COLUMBIA, Mo. – After setting a school record in the indoor 5,000m on Saturday, Mizzou Track & Field junior Karissa Schweizer (Urbandale, Iowa) was named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I National Athlete of the Week, announced by the organization on Tuesday. Schweizer won the 5,000m race at the Boston University Season Opener with a time of 15:37.40, a new personal-record.
This is the first National Athlete of the Week honor for Schweizer. She was named the USTFCCCA Women's National Athlete of the Year after winning the NCAA Cross Country National Championship on Nov. 19, with a time of 19:41.60 in the 6,000m race.
The sub-16 minute 5K set an indoor school record, surpassing the previous record by nearly a full minute. Susan Bliss previously held the school record with a time of 16:33.30, set at the MTCCCA Meet on Dec. 8, 1990. The time is also the 15th-fastest indoor 5K time in collegiate history, according to the USTFCCCA.
Schweizer continues to improve her performances with every race. In six races this cross country season, the Tiger junior set and re-set personal-records in each race. In two 5,000m races, Schweizer's best time was 16:09.93, set in a first-place finish at the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 1.
"We have been very impressed with how Karissa has handled the last two weeks," said Cross Country Head Coach and Track & Field Assistant Coach Marc Burns. "She came off such an emotional weekend at NCAA's and was able to get back to work and stay focused for one more big effort out in Boston. She got out nice and relaxed, took the lead 2400m into the race and led the rest of the way. She ran a monster fourth kilometer in 3:02 and cruised home for the big personal best. Last year, 15:57 was the 16th time to qualify for NCAA's so it should be a safe mark come March. This will allow her to focus more on the mile, 3k and DMR during January and February. It will be exciting to see what she can do in March."
The 3,000m and 5,000m track specialist is next scheduled to compete at the Border Battle on Jan. 7 in Iowa City, Iowa. The meet will be the first of the season for the Mizzou Track & Field team.
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