Karissa Schweizer secures spot in 5000-meter final at Paris Olympics

PARIS, France (KMIZ)

A former Mizzou Tiger will be chasing a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics next week.

Karissa Schweizer advanced to the women's 5,000-meter final on Friday, finishing the preliminary round in eighth place out of 41 runners. The former six-time NCAA national champion's 14:59.64 time was only about two seconds behind Kenya's Faith Kipyegon, who ended the event in first place.

The Mizzou legend has already made MU history by simply reaching the Paris Olympics. Schweizer is the first Mizzou athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games in multiple women's events at least twice. Previously, she punched her ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter run, just like she accomplished this year.

Schweizer will be one of 16 athletes competing for a medal on Monday, Aug. 15 in the finals of the women's 5,000-meter run. The race is scheduled to begin in Paris at 2:15 p.m. CT.