@MizzouAthletics Recognized at WIN for Columbia Awards Luncheon
2/6/2018 3:03:00 PM | General, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field, Cross Country, MizzouMade
Schweizer and Cunningham receive individual honors, Reesman recognized for her service
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Athletics was well-represented at the 21st annual Women's Intersport Network (WIN) for Columbia luncheon on Tuesday at the Southwell Complex on Columbia College's campus. Mizzou Track & Field student-athletes Karissa Schweizer (Urbandale, Iowa) and Megan Cunningham (Eureka, Mo.) garnered individual awards, while Senior Deputy Athletics Director / SWA Sarah Reesman received the Kent Heitholt Memorial Award for her influence and support of women in sports.
Reesman, a founding member who serves on the WIN for Columbia board, was honored for her contributions to women's athletics over her career. Reesman has worked for Mizzou for more than 25 years, and was elevated to Senior Deputy Athletics Director in 2017. She also represents Mizzou as the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) in dealings with the Southeastern Conference and NCAA. Reesman serves as the administration liaison for Mizzou Women's Basketball and Mizzou Track & Field/Cross Country. Reesman also has oversight of Mizzou's highly-regarded student-athlete service units, including the Mizzou Made areas of academic support, student-athlete development, athletic performance, mental performance and integrated health care. She also has spearheaded Mizzou's diversity and inclusion efforts, both in Athletics as well as on campus.
Schweizer was named the Collegiate Sportswomen of the Year for her second consecutive award following her standout track & field and cross country seasons in 2017. On the track, Schweizer became the fourth female in NCAA history to capture the distance triple crown in one collegiate season, winning indoor and outdoor 5000m run national titles, in addition to her 2016 NCAA Cross Country National Title. Schweizer is the only female in Mizzou history to win multiple NCAA titles. Schweizer followed the track season with an 11th-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships, her sixth career All-America honor. Schweizer is the fourth consecutive Mizzou Track & Field student-athlete to win the award after Kearsten Peoples earned the honor in 2015 and 2016, along with Schweizer in 2017. Overall, four Mizzou Track & Field student-athletes have won the award six times after Ashley Wysong and Ann Marie Brooks won the award in 2001 and 2002, respectively.
Mizzou Swim & Dive's Hannah Stevens (Lexington, Ohio) was also named a finalist for the Collegiate Sportswoman of the Year.
Cunningham was given the Inspiration Award after overcoming adversity numerous times in her running career to have an outstanding cross country campaign in 2017. Cunningham returned to competition in 2017 after nearly two years removed from a catastrophic car accident in July 2015 that left her skull fractured and her neck broken in two places. Following her return, Cunningham faced adversity once again at the SEC Cross Country Championships, as she fell and tore her labrum, forcing her to drop out of the race. She bounced back once again two weeks later, postponing shoulder surgery to race with her team at the NCAA Midwest Regional, where she earned All-Midwest Regional honors.
In addition, two other Tigers were named finalists, as Mizzou Women's basketball Head Coach Robin Pingeton was a nominee for Coach of the Year, while Mizzou Mental Performance Director Dr. Scotta Morton was a nominee for Mentor of the Year.
Players Mentioned
