Karissa Schweizer Qualifies in 10,000m, Four Current Tigers Compete

EUGENE, Ore. — Mizzou Track & Field alumna Karissa Schweizer qualified for her second event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, finishing second in the 10,000m run at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Saturday.

Schweizer is the just fifth American woman to qualify in the 5,000m and 10,000m races. She became the first woman from the University of Missouri to qualify for the Olympics in track & field since Natasha Kaiser at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games on Monday finishing second in the 5,000m. 

Saturday’s competition closed the team trials for the Tigers as seven current and former Mizzou athletes took to Hayward Field with hopes to represent the United States. 

Amongst the current athletes, freshman Mitch Weber made the final in the men’s discus and sophomore Arianna Fisher made the final in the women’s triple jump, finishing 12th and 7th, respectively. Fisher also set a new personal record and school record in her effort.

Redshirt senior Jordan McClendon finished 17th in the women’s hammer throw, throwing a season-best 65.41m. Freshman Skylar Ciccolini was included on the start list in the women’s javelin but did not attempt a throw.

Alumni and volunteer coaches Gabi Jacobs and Avery Carter also competed in the women’s discus throw and men’s hammer throw, respectively. Jacobs qualified the final but did not complete a throw.

Hear from head coach Brett Halter

“Exceptional performances by our both past and current athletes. We are very proud of how everyone has competed throughout the two weeks of the Olympic Trials. Everyone that competed at the trials will be better during the next Olympic cycle. We will get back to the process of refining our craft but, until then…as we preach all the time 100-1!! We are a program of a 100 strong plus the thousands of track field alum coupled with the entire Tiger Nation as we get behind Karissa 100-1 as she prepares for Tokyo!”

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games begin on Friday, July 23, and will run through Sunday, August 8.

For all the latest on Mizzou Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouTFXC).