A few years ago at Rock M Nation, we released what began as a top-100 list of Mizzou’s greatest athletes, coaches, teams, etc. You can find an index here. We updated the list for a few new entries in 2014, and the next time the list is updated, it will include quite a few new entries — J’den Cox, for instance.
There aren’t just a ton of female entries on the list. Part of that might have to do with our own blindspots — I, along with the people I enlisted to help put the list together, simply might not know as much about female sports or its participants. But part also has to do with the simple fact that Mizzou hasn’t had a dramatically successful history in terms of female sports.
Here’s the list of women we originally included:
- 18. Chelsea Thomas
- 54. Renee Kelly
- 68. Lindsey Hunter
- 74. Rhea Taylor
- 92. Molly Kreklow and Lisa Henning
- 107. Mizzou Volleyball 2005
The next time the list is updated, let’s go ahead and assume there will be a new name atop this list of women. She’ll be ahead of most of the men, too. One assumes she’ll have a sure spot in the overall top 10 or so, and maybe quite a bit higher.
Karissa Schweizer is a NATIONAL CHAMPION!!
— Cross Country Probs (@CrossProb) June 10, 2018
Her SIXTH National Championship!
5k, 15:41!!!pic.twitter.com/h9WjBmKZAv
Karissa Schweizer bounces back from the 10K to win the 5K title in 15:41!!! #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/FA0paZzz5s
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 10, 2018
On Saturday evening in Eugene, Ore., Mizzou’s Karissa Schweizer finished her Mizzou career with a sixth national title and 10th All-America finish.
Schweizer and the lead pack remained close together for the majority of the race before space starting opening up over the final 800 meters. Around 500 meters to go, Schweizer was briefly surpassed by Stanford’s Vanesa Fraser, but Schweizer was able to regain the lead on the final lap and take the title, as she crossed the finish line at 15:41.58. Schweizer’s 16 points at the meet were tied for the third-most at the meet, trailing only Arizona State’s Maggie Ewen and Georgia’s Keturah Orji, who each scored 20 points.
Schweizer becomes the sixth woman in NCAA history to win back-to-back outdoor 5000m titles, following Valerie McGovern (Kentucky, 1989-90), Jennifer Rhines (Villanova, 1994-96), Amy Skieresz (Arizona, 1997-98), Lauren Fleshman (Stanford, 2001-03) and Abbey D’Agostino (Dartmouth, 2012-13). Schweizer’s finish is the third outdoor 5000m national title in program history, as Schweizer’s back-to-back performances are joined by Sabrina Dornhoefer’s title in 1985.
Here’s the key paragraph:
Schweizer closes her career as one of the most decorated student-athletes all-time in Mizzou history, as she ends with six national titles, 10 All-America honors, eight conference titles, six school records, and one collegiate record.
ESPN’s John Anderson, himself a Mizzou grad, spoke to Schweizer right after the race.
With help from discus thrower Gabi Jacobs — who herself became a two-time All-American on Saturday — Schweizer powered a No. 11 overall finish for Mizzou Women’s Track & Field, the school’s highest ever outdoor mark.
Schweizer went from good to great as a junior and maintained her form all the way through her senior season. To end up No. 1 on a revised Mizzou’s Greatest list, she might need to enjoy some international success. But I think I can now say without any hesitation: Karissa Schweizer is the greatest female athlete in Mizzou history.
I wrote about the special bond between @KarissaSchweiz4 and her Grandpa Frank for @runnersworld. She wins, he cries. It's all good. https://t.co/2hLuDjkjSM pic.twitter.com/H4ZAB5AH3n
— Sarah Lorge Butler (@slorgebutler) June 7, 2018