Friday, March 30
Stanford, Calif.
10 AM CT
University of Missouri
at
Stanford Invitational
@MIZ_TrackField Splits for Three Meets in Two States
3/29/2018 1:52:00 PM | Track & Field
Schweizer and Cunningham to run in Stanford Invitational 10K, 33 athletes set to compete at Ole Miss Classic
| MIZZOU TRACK & FIELD | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEET | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | MEDIA |
| SFSU Distance Carnival | San Francisco, Calif. | March 30 | Meet Schedule | |
| Stanford Invitational | Palo Alto, Calif. | March 30 | Meet Schedule | Watch Live Results |
| Ole Miss Classic | Oxford, Miss. | March 31 | Meet Schedule | Live Results |
| NOTES: Meet Notes | ||||
MIZZOU SPLITS FOR THREE SEPARATE MEETS IN TWO STATES, SCHWEIZER TO MAKE COLLEGIATE DEBUT IN 10,000 METER RUN
- Mizzou Track & Field will split this weekend's slate of competition, as 10 distance runners will compete at either the Stanford Invitational or the San Francisco State Distance Carnival in California on Friday, while 33 athletes head to Mississippi for the Ole Miss Classic on Saturday.
- A live stream of the Stanford Invitational and SFSU Distance Carnival will be available on Saturday on FloTrack for a fee. Live results will be available for all three meets.
- Senior Karissa Schweizer and redshirt senior Megan Cunningham will be on display at the Stanford Invitational, as the duo will run in the 10,000m run invitational at 11:07 p.m. (CT)/9:07 p.m. (PT) on Friday. The pair are Mizzou's only entries in the Stanford meet, which serves as one of the top meets for distance runners in the outdoor season. Schweizer is coming another impressive showing on the national stage at the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 9-10), where she became the fifth female in NCAA history to win the 3000m and 5000m national titles in the same meet. The two national titles gave Schweizer five for her career, more than any other athlete in Mizzou history. Cunningham is coming off great success as well, as she captured the 5000m conference title at the SEC Indoor Championships (Feb. 25) in her most recent performance.
- Mizzou's throwers have started the 2018 outdoor season off on the right foot, as five athletes have already posted program top-10 marks this season. In Mizzou's most recent meet, the Arkansas Spring Invitational (March 23-24), redshirt junior Will Fife joined the top-10 list at No. 7 in the shot put with a mark of 18.58m (60-11.5), while freshman Megan Haley set a top-10 mark in the javelin for the second straight meet, checking in at No. 9 with a throw of 43.40 (142-5). Mizzou's other three top-10 marks came at the CMU Open (March 17), as junior Becky Keating posted the second-best mark in program history in the hammer throw at 63.87m (209-6), redshirt sophomore Patrick Kunza posted the eighth-best mark in the men's hammer throw at 62.70m (205-8). In the javelin, sophomore Allie Webb checked in at No. 8 all-time with a mark of 43.62m (143-1).
THROWS GROUP SHINES FOR MIZZOU AT ARKANSAS SPRING INVITATIONAL
- Mizzou wrapped up competition at the Arkansas Spring Invitational with 10 top-three finishes and two top-10 program marks. Mizzou's throws group especially shined for the Tigers, as the group recorded four event wins and seven top-three finishes. In the men's shot put, redshirt junior Will Fife recorded the seventh-best throw in program history, while freshman Megan Haley posted the ninth-best program throw in the javelin.
- Fife recorded his second personal best in the shot put in as many meets, as the Tiger junior recorded a mark of 18.58m (60-11.5) with his last throw to seal his event win and enter the Mizzou top-10 list at No. 7. Fife's mark surpassed Gene Crews' 1965 mark of 18.44m (60-6) on the Mizzou top-10 list.
- In just her second collegiate meet, Haley posted a top-10 program mark once again in the javelin. Haley finished second in the event with a mark of 43.40m (142-5), which ranks ninth all-time in program history. In her collegiate debut at the CMU Open (March 17), Haley recorded a mark of 41.70m (136-10), which ranked tenth in school history.
- In the women's discus, redshirt junior Gabi Jacobs recorded her second event win in as many meets, as she recorded a mark of 47.56m (156-0). Mizzou swept the hammer throw, as redshirt sophomore Patrick Kunza posted a mark of 59.17m (194-1), and junior Becky Keating recorded a mark of 56.89m (186-7).
MIZZOU SETS FOUR TOP-10 MARKS, EIGHT EVENT WINS AT CMU OPEN
- A group of Mizzou throwers opened the outdoor season March 17, as Mizzou recorded eight event wins and four program top-10 marks at the Central Methodist Open. On both the men's and women's side, the Tigers had first-place finishes in the shot put, discus, hammer throw and javelin.
- Joining the top-10 list was junior Becky Keating and redshirt sophomore Patrick Kunza in the hammer throw, as well as sophomore Allie Webb and freshman Megan Haley in the javelin.
- Keating posted the second-best hammer throw in program history, as the Tiger junior won the event with a mark of 63.87m (209-6). Keating entered the meet with the fifth-best mark in program history, as she improved on her previous personal best of 58.59m (192-3) from the 2017 NCAA West Preliminary (May 25), and now only trails Kearsten Peoples' 2015 mark of 66.17m (217-1) on Mizzou's top-10 list. In the men's hammer throw, Kunza and redshirt junior Avery Carter finished first and second at 62.70m (205-8) and 60.49m (198-5), respectively. Both set personal records, while Kunza's mark was good enough to rank eighth on the top-10 list.
- In the women's javelin, Webb and Haley went 1-2 with marks of 43.62m (143-1) and 41.70m (136-10), respectively. Webb's mark ranks eighth on the top-10 list, while Haley's mark ranks 10th.
- Mizzou also recorded event wins in the men's shot put and discus from redshirt junior Will Fife, women's shot put and discus from redshirt junior Gabi Jacobs, and men's javelin from senior Rauno Liitmae. Fife recorded a personal record in his performance, as he posted a mark of 17.68m (58-0.25).
SCHWEIZER BECOMES DOUBLE CHAMPION AT NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Mizzou senior Karissa Schweizer won her fourth and fifth career national titles at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, becoming the most decorated national champion in Mizzou history, as she surpassed former wrestler J'den Cox's three national titles. Schweizer became the fifth female in NCAA history to win the 3000m and 5000m national titles in the same NCAA Indoor meet, as she joins Notre Dame's Molly Seidel (2016), Dartmouth's Abbey D'Agostino (2013 & 2014), Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego (2007) and Providence's Kim Smith (2004).
- Schweizer's two national titles led Mizzou to a ninth-place finish with 20 points, its fourth-best finish in program history. The finish only trails Mizzou's seventh-place finish in 2001, and its eighth-place finishes in 1989 and 2017. The ninth-place finish marks the fourth time in the last five seasons Mizzou has finished in the top-20 at the NCAA Indoor Meet, a feat that only 11 female programs have accomplished.
- First, Schweizer led the 5000m race wire-to-wire, as she pulled away from 2017 NCAA Cross Country National Champion Ednah Kurgat (New Mexico) with two laps remaining to finish at 15:43.23 and secure her fourth national title. Schweizer's 2018 title is the fourth 5000m run national title in program history, as she is preceded by Sabrina Dornhoefer's 1985 outdoor title, as well as her own indoor and outdoor titles in 2017. With the win, the Tiger senior becomes the fifth female in NCAA history to win back-to-back indoor 5000m run national championships (event began in 1989), and the first since Dartmouth's Abbey D'Agostino won in 2013 and 2014.
- Next, Schweizer led the 3000m run for a vast majority of the race, as she took the lead a few laps into the 3000m race, and never looked back. Boise State's Allie Ostrander stayed near Schweizer for much of the race before the Tiger senior pulled away in the final lap to take the victory at 8:53.36, the third-fastest 3000m time at the NCAA Indoor meet. Schweizer's title is the first 3000m run national title in program history, and the eighth overall 3000m run All-America honor in program history, as Schweizer is preceded by a Sabrina Dornhoefer (second at 1984 indoor, fourth at 1984 outdoor), Susan Bliss (eighth at 1990 Indoor, ninth at 1990 outdoor, 11th at 1991 indoor), Ann Marie Brooks (second at 2001 indoor) and herself (second at 2017 indoor). Schweizer's eight overall All-America honors match Dornhoefer for the second-most in program history, regardless of gender, and only trails Kearsten Peoples' 10 All-America honors.
WARD COLLECTS FIRST ALL-AMERICA HONOR
- Mizzou redshirt freshman Ja'Mari Ward finished seventh in the men's long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships to earn his first career All-America honor.
- Ward posted a mark of 7.82m (25-8) with his fifth attempt to finish seventh in the men's long jump and earn First-Team All-America honors. The seventh-place finish is Mizzou's best long jump finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships since 1978 when Ajayi Agbebaku finished third. Ward's All-America honor is the fourth-ever indoor long jump All-America honor by a Mizzou male, the seventh overall, indoor or outdoor and the first since 2013 when Malcom Pennix finished 14th at the NCAA Indoor Meet.
- The All-America honor capped an impressive debut indoor season for Ward, who set the school record in the long jump, earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors and posted a program top-10 mark in the triple jump.
ACCOLADES, AWARDS CONTINUE FOR SCHWEIZER
- The accolades and awards Mizzou senior Karissa Schweizer's have not slowed down at all in 2018, as she continues to be named to The Bowerman Watch List, as announced by the USTFCCCA. The Bowerman is annually awarded to the nation's top male and female student-athlete in NCAA Track & Field. Schweizer was also named the SEC Runner of the Year, USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Women's Track Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA Women's Track National Athlete of the Year.
- Schweizer's two national titles capped a dominant 2018 indoor campaign in distance running for Schweizer, who set collegiate top-five times in the mile run, 3000m run and 5000m run in 2018. Schweizer set the collegiate record in the 3000m run at the Millrose Games (Feb. 3), winning USTFCCCA Division I Women's National Athlete of the Week and the Southeastern Conference Women's Runner of the Week honors in the process. Schweizer was the top collegiate finisher in the race, as she crossed the finish line fourth at 8:41.60. Schweizer's time surpassed the previous collegiate record from 2009 by Colorado's Jenny (Barringer) Simpson (8:42.03), as well as the Mizzou school record mark of 9:06.39, which was set by Sabrina Dornhoefer in 1984. She also clocked a time of 4:27.54 in the mile run at the Columbia Challenge (Jan. 27), the fifth-fastest time in NCAA history, and a 15:17.31 in the 5000m run at the BU Season Opener (Dec. 2, 2017), the fifth-fastest time in NCAA history.
- Schweizer continued her distance dominance at the 2018 SEC Indoor Championships, capturing her sixth and seventh conference titles in the 3000m run and distance medley relay. Schweizer set a conference meet record in the 3000m run, clocking a time of 9:00.56, while her 4:25.56 anchor leg split gave the Tigers the DMR title. The Tiger senior's seven career conference titles match Sabrina Dornhoefer for the most conference championships by a female in program history.
EIGHT FROM MIZZOU EARN ALL-SEC HONORS
- Mizzou garnered eight honors as the Southeastern Conference announced its SEC Indoor. Senior Karissa Schweizer earned the SEC Women's Runner of the Year following conference titles in the 3000m run and distance medley relay. This is second consecutive season she's been named the league's top female indoor runner.
- Joining Schweizer with All-SEC first team honors was redshirt senior Megan Cunningham, who captured the 5000m SEC title, as well as Schweizer's DMR teammates, junior Maya Cody, redshirt senior Valeska Halamicek and sophomore Karina Liz. Three Tigers, distance runner Austin Hindman, jumper standout Ja'Mari Ward and thrower Emily Stauffer also earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors as the top freshman finisher in their event.
- Mizzou's freshmen set themselves up for a successful future at SEC meets in the Black & Gold, as the Tigers' three All-SEC Freshman Team honors are tied for the second-most in the conference. Ward led the way, as he finished fifth in the long jump (7.75m/25-5.25), while Stauffer finished 11th in the weight throw (17.81m/58-5.25) and Hindman finished 16th in the 3000m run (8:21.48). Ward, the 2017 SEC Outdoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year, set the school record and posted a NCAA Indoor-qualifying mark at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge (Feb. 16), as he jumped 7.97m (26-1.75).
CUNNINGHAM WINS 5000m SEC TITLE
- Mizzou redshirt senior Megan Cunningham claimed her first career conference title in the 5000m run at the SEC Indoor Championships.
- Cunningham jumped out to the front of the pack from the get-go and lead for the majority of the women's 5000m run race, as the Tiger senior claimed her first career conference title with a time of 15:56.76. The Tiger senior demolished the competition in the race, as she finished more than 25 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Kentucky's Katy Kunc (16:20.70). With the win, Cunningham records the first indoor 5000m run conference title in program history, and the fifth overall as Sabrina Dornhoefer (1983-84), Ann Marie Brooks (2001) and Schweizer (2017) captured outdoor 5000m run conference titles.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
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Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
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Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track and FieldNational Champions Are Made at Mizzou: Jonathan Seremes
Friday, March 21
Behind the Scenes: Megan Cunningham Accepts Inspiration Award
Wednesday, June 27
HIGHLIGHTS: Schweizer Wins 5th NCAA Title
Saturday, March 10
HIGHLIGHTS: Schweizer Wins NCAA Indoor 5K
Friday, March 09
