Former Mizzou running star Karissa Schweizer breaks American record
Former Mizzou star Karissa Schweizer made American history on Thursday.
Running at the BU Last Chance Invitational in Boston, Schweizer finished the 3,000 meters in 8 minutes, 25.70 seconds, snapping an American record with a strong kick down the home stretch.
Schweizer was a six-time NCAA champion at Mizzou from 2014-18. After an illustrious career, she turned to the pros, where she currently runs as part of the Bowerman Track Club. She’s also a Nike athlete.
Fellow Bowerman teammates Shelby Houlihan and Colleen Quigley were second and third in the race on Thursday. They also broke the old record, 8:33.25, set by Schweizer’s former training partner and now assistant coach Shalane Flanagan in 2007.
Only four women have ever eclipsed Schweizer’s record-breaking time on Thursday. The world record is Genzebe Dibaba’s 8:16.6 mark.
During Schweizer’s illustrious career at Mizzou, she was the 2018 NCAA champion in the 3,000 meters. She eclipsed her previous personal record by 16 seconds on Thursday.