Women's Results | Men's Results
PEORIA, Ill. - Karissa Schweizer's exciting debut season will continue for one more week, as she qualified for next weekend's NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. The SEC Freshman of the Year placed seventh overall at the Midwest Regional Championship on Friday (November 14), leading the women to a sixth-place team finish, a repeat placing from last year.
Schweizer was up with the lead pack from the start, coming through the 2000-meter mark in 12th before moving into the top ten by 4000-meters. She maintained ninth until 1000-meters to go on the 6000-meter course, battling to the line to claim seventh with a final time of 20:25.60, cutting over a minute from her previous best finish. She was the last automatic individual qualifier for the field, and will lace up the spikes one last time on Saturday, November 22, at the NCAA Championships.
"We are thrilled with Karissa's race today. She ran a very smart race and moved up each two-kilometer loop to give herself a chance to run down that last individual spot," Head Coach Marc Burns said, "She was ten meters behind a Kansas State with 600-meters to go, and really dropped the hammer and closed like crazy to catch her and a girl from Minnesota."
Sophomore Kaitlyn Fischer was across the line next for the Tigers, earning All-Midwest Region for the second consecutive year with her 21st place finish. Seniors Courtney Wood and Courtney Brown closed their cross country careers as the third and fourth across the line for the Tigers, placing 35th and 60th, respectively. That was a personal record for Wood, who marked in with a final time of 20:59.90.
"Courtney Wood had a fantastic day in her last collegiate cross country race. She followed the game plan and moved up over the last two-kilometers to give us a solid number three today," Burns said. "I am really proud of how the women competed thoughout the year and the future looks bright for this team."
Rounding out the top five for the black and gold was sophomore Kayla Wolf, who also hit her best time for the 6000-meter cross country course in 21:32.10.
Leading the way for the men's team was sophomore Drew White, who stepped up with one of his best meets of the season. He placed 45th in the field, followed by senior Sam Dickerson, sophomore Jordan Cook, sophomoer T.J. Carey, and junior Tyler Schneider.
"Drew White ran a super race and I have been really pleased with his development throughout the fall," Burns said. "This is still a young, talented team and we will be back. Now it is time to get recovered and ready for some fast times on the track. Great track times lead to great cross country the following fall. Next fall will be a big one for us to make a big step toward challenging for an SEC title and getting to the NCAA meet."
The Tigers now look forward to an exciting NCAA performance from Schweizer. The women's race is set to go off at noon, ET, on the LaVern Gibson National Championship Cross Country Course. For the latest on your Tigers, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MIZ_TrackField.
Women's Results
Team: Sixth, 205 points
Individuals: 7. Karissa Schweizer, 20:25.60 | 21. Kaitlyn Fischer, 20:47.50 | 35. Courtney Wood, 20:59.90 | 60. Courtney Brown, 21:24.30 | 82. Kayla Wolf, 21:32.10 | 99. Nicole Mello, 21:44.60 | 137. Maria Effinger, 22:12.40
Men's Results
Team: 17th, 451 points
Individuals: 45. Drew White, 30:57.90 | 82. Sam Dickerson, 31:24.40 | 88. Jordan Cook, 31:28.90 | 90. T.J. Carey, 31:30.30 | 146. Tyler Schneider, 32:34.70 | 182. Kenny Cushing, 33:37.70