Missouri seniors Schweizer and Cunningham become first teammates since 1994 to sweep 5,000 and 10,000; Cohen secures qualifying standard for European Championships by lowering her own Israeli national 3,000 steeplechase record

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Karissa Schweizer has celebrated several memorable moments, record-setting runs and thrilling title performances during her Missouri career.

But the decorated senior said none of them meant as much as Thursday’s victory in the women’s 5,000 meters at the 109th Drake Relays in front of 7,548 in her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa.

Schweizer set the meet record by clocking 15 minutes, 23.21 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 15:31.18 by Wisconsin’s Cathy Branta-Easker that had stood since 1985.

Programming Note: You can watch the live Webcast here of the meet Friday and Saturday. The USATF.TV broadcast and on-demand videos will only be available for USATF.TV +PLUS subscribers. Subscribe here.

“This one just definitely tops them all,” said Schweizer, who ran the fastest time by an American this year and elevated to No. 4 in the world.

“It really means a lot to me just coming back to my hometown. Being able to run at the Drake Relays has always been a huge meet for me and to be able to come back here just means so much.”

Anna Connor, a High Performance West professional athlete, helped pace Schweizer through the midway point in 7:45, then the reigning NCAA Division 1 champion took over from there.

“It helped so much to have someone be able to set the tone for the race, knowing that I can just relax behind her and have her take the wind for a little bit. And just knowing that when she stepped off, I’ve got to keep that rhythm going,” Schweizer said. “It really gets hard toward the end, but just knowing my overall goal and knowing that I’m doing it all for the fans and doing it all for my family and my team just makes it all worth it.”

Schweizer covered the final kilometer in just under 3 minutes, closing the last 400 meters in 70 seconds to run the second-fastest outdoor 5,000 of her career, trailing only her 15:18.69 from June when she placed fourth at the USATF Championships in Sacramento. Her indoor PR is 15:17.31 from Dec. 2 at Boston University.

The record performance marked the first victory for Schweizer at Drake’s Jim Duncan Track since 2011 when she captured the Iowa 4A state title in the 3,000 as a Dowling Catholic freshman.

“It’s definitely a tough record,” Schweizer said. “To be able to even be in the lead on this track was something that really was crazy. To hear the crowd just really brought back so many amazing memories. I just love being able to come back to this track.”

Schweizer also contributed to more history, as she and fellow senior Megan Cunningham became the first teammates since 1994 to win the 5,000 and 10,000 at Drake Relays.

Cunningham ran a personal-best 33:19.25, the second-fastest performance in meet history, trailing only the 32:57.38 produced by Club Nike’s Patti Murray in 1988. Missouri also received a win in the unseeded women’s 1,500 from Valeska Halamicek in 4:26.44.

“It didn’t really go how like I planned. I kind of thought there would probably be a pack of us through 5K,” said Cunningham, who didn’t finish her last 10,000 race March 30 at the Stanford Invitational.

“The group was coming through really slow through the 200, so I realized I was going to have to take it. I practice basically running by myself every day, so I went out there and listened to coach (Marc) Burns yelling out splits just like another day at practice and went out there and executed.”

Cunningham elevated to No. 4 in program history and ninth among NCAA Division 1 athletes this year, with Schweizer still the collegiate leader at 32:00.55.

“For me the goal was just to go out and finish. I knew I could put together the time if I just stay focused and stay relaxed and just finish the race, then I’d see what happens,” Cunningham said. “The goal was just to get a qualifier, not do anything crazy, just run between 33:30 and 34 minutes, but I know what kind of shape I’m in and I went in with confidence and just needed to stay consistent and stay focused and keep checking off (laps).”

Iowa Central Community College freshman Adva Cohen produced the other meet record, lowering her own Israeli national standard to 9:52.37 to take down the 2004 mark of 9:57.03 set by Northern Arizona’s Ida Nilsson.

“It was good. This was my first time under 10 and it was my goal to do it under 9:55 for the European Championships (standard),” Cohen said. “The last time I raced in Wichita, it was really windy there, so it was hard to (go) under 10, but this time I did it and I’m so happy.”

Cohen, who also lowered the best two-year college time in history, improved to No. 4 among all collegiate runners and elevated to the No. 16 performer in the world this year.

“It’s great. It’s wonderful. I don’t know how to explain it,” Cohen said. “I love it. I will try to (run) under 9:50 now and just do better and better.”

Drake graduate Reed Fischer, competing for Tinman Elite, became the first back-to-back champion in the men’s 5,000 since 2006-07, clocking 13:53.32. North Central (Ill.) junior Dhruvil Patel became the No. 6 performer in NCAA Division 3 history, placing third in 13:58.27.

Eastern Illinois senior Riley McInerney won the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in 8:55.18 and former Indiana State standout John Mascari prevailed in the men’s 10,000 in 29:41.13.

Arkansas senior Derek Jacobus, competing unattached, won the men’s decathlon with 7,198 points after leader Kurtis Brondyke didn’t finish the 1,500. Former North Dakota State standout Rose Jackson prevailed in the women’s heptathlon with 5,537 points.