SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Mizzou Track & Field senior Karissa Schweizer (Des Moines, Iowa) qualified for her second event in the NCAA Outdoor Championships on the final day of competition at the NCAA West Preliminary. Her time of 15:19.65 in the 5000m run was the fastest time in the nation this season, and the 14th fastest time in collegiate history.
NOTABLE TIGERS
Schweizer continued to set records in her second appearance in the NCAA West Preliminary. With her first-place finish, Schweizer tallied two appearances and two first-place finishes, qualifying for both the 5000m and the 10,000m. She battled for front position from the get-go, maintaining a steady pace in second place. It was the back half of the last lap where Schweizer took the lead, and finished nearly six seconds ahead of the next finisher. Her previous season best time in the event was 15:23.21, which she set at the Drake Relays (April 26). Schweizer will compete for her sixth and seventh NCAA Titles in Eugene.
Junior Landon Cuskelly (El Dorado, Kan.) barely missed the cut to qualify for the high jump, placing 13th overall with a jump of 2.11m. Junior Becky Keating (Reading, England) had a strong final performance in the hammer throw, with a mark of 60.61m and a 17th place finish. Redshirt junior Will Fife (Jefferson City, Mo.) placed 25th overall in the shot put, with a throw of 17.19m, followed by a 27th finish by teammate senior Rauno Liitmae (Estonia) in the javelin throw.
UP NEXT
Mizzou's three qualifying athletes will travel to Eugene, Oregon for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Schweizer, and teammates, redshirt junior Avery Carter (Lee's Summit, Mo) and redshirt junior Gabi Jacobs (Bloomington, Ill.), will begin competition on June 6.
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
5000m Run – 1. Karissa Schweizer, 15:19.65
RESULTS – FIELD EVENTS
High Jump, Men – 13. Landon Cuskelly, 2.11m (6-11)
Shot Put, Men – 25. Will Fife, 17.19m (58-4.5)
Hammer Throw, Women – 17. Becky Keating, 60.61m (198-10)
Javelin, Men – 27. Rauno Liitmae, 62.40 (204-9)
