Missouri
Drake Relays
Schweizer and Cunningham Win White Flags at Drake Relays
4/26/2018 10:18:00 PM | Track & Field
DES MOINES, Iowa – Mizzou Track & Field claimed two white flags on the first day of the 109th Drake Relays Friday, as senior Karissa Schweizer (Urbandale, Iowa) won the 5000m run and redshirt senior Megan Cunningham (Eureka, Mo.) won the 10,000m run. The duo's first-place finishes mark the second time in Drake Relays history, and the first time since 1994, that a women's team has swept the 5000m and 10,000m races.
NOTABLE TIGERS
In her final individual collegiate race on the Blue Oval, Schweizer captured her first-ever championship at the Drake Relays, as she set the meet record in the 5000m run when she crossed the finish line at 15:23.21. Schweizer's time surpassed the previous record of 15:31.18, which was set by Wisconsin's Cathy Branta in 1985. Her time is the fastest ran in the NCAA this season by nine seconds, and the fourth-fastest in the world in 2018. Schweizer now holds the top-time ran in the NCAA in the 5000m and 10,000m (32:00.55) in 2018, and the eighth-fastest 1500m (4:12.83) time.
Cunningham captured the first white flag of the evening for Mizzou, as she won the 10,000m run title in dominating fashion. She led the race from start to finish as she crossed the finish line at 33:19.25, more than two minutes ahead of Wartburg's Ashlyn Bagge who finished second at 35:28.82. Cunningham's time ranks second in Drake Relays history, as it only trails Patty Murray's (Nike) time of 32:57.38 in 1988. In addition to Cunningham's time ranking fourth all-time in program history, it currently ranks seventh in the NCAA West Region and ninth overall in the NCAA this season. Cunningham shaved more than three minutes off her previous personal record of 36:46.41, which she set at the 2015 Drake Relays.
Five other Tigers set personal records at the Distance Carnival, as redshirt senior Valeska Halamicek (Weldon Spring, Mo.) finished first in the women's 1500m run unseeded heat at 4:26.44, while redshirt freshman Karina Liz (Aurora, Ill.) finished third in the 800m run at 2:08.77. Both times were less than two seconds from cracking the top-10 in program history. In the men's 800m run, redshirt freshman Robert Kuhlmann (Lake Villa, Ill.) finished ninth at 1:52.95. In the women's 5000m run, redshirt sophomore Jordyn Kleve (Urbandale, Iowa) and redshirt sophomore Sophia Racette (Nixa, Mo.) each set personal best marks, finishing at 16:58.26 and 17:24.95, respectively.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou senior Karissa Schweizer
On setting a record in her home state…
"It means so much to me being back in my hometown, this is where it all started. To be able to run like I am now, I could have never dreamed of that as a high schooler. It really brings back a lot of memories."
Mizzou redshirt senior Megan Cunningham
On the experience of winning a Drake Relays title…
"It didn't really go like I planned. I thought there would be a pack of us through at least 5K, but I was trying to hang back, stay behind a couple girls, but we were already coming through the first 200 slow, so I knew I was going to have to take it. I just listened to Coach Burns yell out my splits like in practice, and just went out there and executed."
On the feelings of the victory lap…
"It felt really good. My goal was just to go out there and finish. I knew I could put together the time if I could just stay focused and relaxed."
UP NEXT
Mizzou returns to the Blue Oval for the second day of competition of the Drake Relays Friday, as collegiate track events begin at 8:50 a.m. (CT) and field events at 10 a.m. (CT). Mizzou's first competitors for the day will be redshirt junior Avery Carter (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and redshirt junior Will Fife (Jefferson City, Mo.) in the men's shot put at 11 a.m. (CT).
For all the latest on Mizzou Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MIZ_TrackField).
RESULTS - TRACK EVENTS
800m Run, Men (unseeded) – 9. Robert Kuhlmann, 1:52.95 PR // 14. Ben Goodman, 1:53.60 // 16. Mark Sheridan, 1:53.89
800m Run, Women (unseeded) – 3. Karina Liz, 2:08.77 PR
1500m Run, Women (unseeded) – 1. Valeska Halamicek, 4:26.44 PR
5000m Run, Men (unseeded) – 25. Marc Dubrick, 15:33.80
5000m Run, Women (seeded) – 1. Karissa Schweizer, 15:23.21 MR // 9. Jordyn Kleve, 16:58.26 PR // 17. Melissa Menghini, 17:51.35
5000m Run, Women (unseeded) – 13. Sophia Racette, 17:24.95 PR
10,000m Run, Men – 20. Michael Widmann, 32:05.05
10,000m Run, Women – 1. Megan Cunningham, 33:19.25 PR, #4
3000m Steeplechase, Women – 15. Samantha Farmer, 11:13.05
Players Mentioned
