NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the final day of the Commodore Invitational, Mizzou Track and Field had 11 student-athletes post top-10 finishes, 10 set personal records and one set an all-time top-10 mark. Over the two-day meet, the Tigers had 14 top-10 finishes, 12 personal records set, two top-10 all-time program marks recorded and one first place event finish.
"We had a really well rounded team effort across the board this weekend," said head coach Brett Halter. "There were many impressive early season performances as we continue to prepare for the SEC and NCAA Championships. There are a lot of student-athletes who are in a really good spot at this point of the season. As a staff, we are very pleased with the competitive effort of our team and we look forward to their continued improvement over the coming months."
Junior Karissa Schweizer (Urbandale, Iowa) finished first in the mile run with a time of 4:41.86. Schweizer ran the majority of the race around fifth place before using a kick over the last 800 meters to pass the rest of the field and take first place. In the 3,000m race, redshirt sophomore Jamie Kempfer (Festus, Mo.) recorded the fifth-fastest indoor 3,000m time in school history with a third place finish at 9:26.36. Kempfer surpassed Susan Bliss, who ran a 9:27.42 on March 10, 1990, for fifth place. Redshirt junior Nicole Mello (Columbia, Mo.) finished just behind Kempfer in fourth place with a personal record time of 9:39.18.
In the men's 3,000m race, five Tigers recorded personal records, led by redshirt senior Luca Russo (Kent, England) who finished ninth with a time of 8:17.69. Finishing behind Russo was redshirt senior Ollie Lockley (Colby, Isle of Man), sophomore Thomas George (Gloucester, England), redshirt junior Marc Dubrick (DeKalb, Ill.) and redshirt senior Tim Johnson (Palatine, Ill.), who finished 11th, 13th, 15th and 32nd, respectively, all posting personal records. Lockley finished at 8:18.74, while George finished at 8:18.31, Dubrick at 8:22.06 and Johnson at 8:41.28.
In the 800m run, redshirt junior Ben Goodman (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished ninth for the men with a time of 1:52.17, while redshirt junior Valeska Halamicek (Weldon Springs, Mo.) finished 10th for the women with a time of 2:13.59.
In sprints, redshirt junior Jerrad Mason (Bridgetown, Barbados) made his indoor season debut in the 400m dash, finishing fifth with a time of 47.91, while senior LaQuisha Jackson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) finished 10th in the 60m dash with a time of 7.50. In the 60m hurdles, redshirt sophomore Valerie Thames (Milwaukee, Wis.) finished 10th with a time of 8.76.
A pair of top-10 finishes from redshirt sophomore Avery Carter (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and redshirt sophomore Gabi Jacobs (Bloomington, Ill.) highlighted the day in the field events. Carter finished fifth in the shot put with a personal record throw of 16.23m (53-3), while Jacobs finished eighth in the shot put with a throw of 14.34m (47-0.75).
Two other Tigers – redshirt senior Drew White (Crystal City, Mo.) and junior Bianca Mello (Columbia, Mo.) – also recorded personal records at the meet, each in the mile run. White ran a 4:13.43, while Mello ran a 5:14.41.
Mizzou will return home for its next meet as the Tigers host the Tiger Invitational on Friday, Jan. 20, at the Hearnes Center.
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Results – Track Events
60m Hurdles, Women – 10. Valerie Thames, 8.76
60m Dash, Women – 10. LaQuisha Jackson, 7.50 // 13. Maya Cody, 7.55 // 37. Tsai-Anne Joseph, 8.00
60m Dash, Men – 20. Jerrad Mason, 7.01 // 21. Kahmari Montgomery, 7.05
400m Dash, Women – 18. Valerie Thames, 57.46 // 44. Emma Vickers, 1:02.53
400m Dash, Men – 5. Jerrad Mason, 47.91
800m Run, Women – 10. Valeska Halamicek, 2:13.59 // 22. Karina Liz, 2:17.69 // 31. Faramola Shonekan, 2:34.20
800m Run, Men – 9. Ben Goodman, 1:52.17 // 12. Mark Sheridan, 1:53.79 // 17. Taylor Stephen, 1:55.19 // 21. Cain Winebrenner, 1:56.66 // 26. Robert Kuhlmann, 1:59.38 // 27. Justin Loquercio, 1:59.78
Mile Run, Women – 1. Karissa Schweizer, 4:41.86 // 15. Teylar Adelsberger, 5:04.09 // 25. Hannah Thomas, 5:09.85 // 29. Bianca Mello, 5:14.41 PR // 36. Bailey Hession, 5:18.40 // 51. Elly DeTurris, 5:36.16
Mile Run, Men – 17. Drew White, 4:13.43 PR // 39. Brian Hernan, 4:25.14
3000m Run, Women – 3. Jamie Kempfer, 9:26.36 PR, #5 // 4. Nicole Mello, 9:39.18 PR // 15. Kaitlyn Fischer, 9:58.67 // 17. Megan Cunningham, 10:05.85 // 19. Jordyn Kleve, 10:07.91 // 23. Samantha Farmer, 10:12.01 // 39. Kaelyn Balch, 10:55.79
3000m Run, Men – 9. Luca Russo, 8:17.69 PR // 11. Ollie Lockley, 8:18.74 PR // 13. Thomas George, 8:19.31 PR // 15. Marc Dubrick, 8:22.06 PR // 26. Evan Schulte, 8:37.52 // 31. Patrick Kearns, 8:40.69 // 32. Tim Johnson, 8:41.28 PR // 34. Sheldon Keence, 8:42.65 // 38. Michael Widmann, 8:36.60 // 47. Tyler Gillam, 9:06.26
Results – Field Events
Shot Put, Women – 8. Gabi Jacobs, 14.34m (47-0.75)
Shot Put, Men – 5. Avery Carter, 16.23m (53-3) PR // 12. Will Fife, 14.66m (48-1.25) // 18. Rauno Liitmae, 11.94m (39-2.25)