Iowa Native Will Once Again Represent Team USA on the Track
Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines consistently puts out some of the best athletic programs and individual athletes in the state.
The football program won seven state championships in a row from 2013-2019. Former Iowa basketball stud and member of the Utah Jazz Bobby Hansen went there. So did current Hawkeye star, Caitlin Clark.
As a track and field nut myself, the first few names I think of from Dowling are Jason Thomas and Ryan Schweizer. Both won state championships in cross country, and they both took home multiple titles on the blue oval in Des Moines.
If there were any of these young stars went on to represent the United States on the world stage, most wouldn't exactly be shocked. What they may be shocked by is the fact that it's not Ryan Schweizer running with USA across his chest, but his older sister, Karissa.
And here's the thing -- 2022 isn't the first time for the older Schweizer. She first donned the red, white, and blue in 2019 when she ran at the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, and then the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
She finished 9th in the 5,000 meter run in Doha, running 14:45.18.
The Urbandale native wasn't done there, as she fulfilled a childhood dream, qualifying for the previous Olympics in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter runs. She placed 11th in the 5k in 14:55.80 and 12th in the 10k, running a time of 31:19.96.
Just one year later, she's headed back to the world stage in both events. Schweizer placed second and won the silver medal at the US Outdoor Track and Field Championships this past weekend in the 5,000m with a time of 15:49.32. After running a time of 15:02.77 earlier this season, she has the fastest time among the three American women who will run at the World Championships.
On May 27, Schweizer won the U.S. 10K title in a season-best time of 30:49.56, also meeting the world standard.
The Mizzou graduate ran in the 1500-meter final at the US Championships as well, but placed fourth in a time of 4:05.40 and will not compete in the event at the World Championships.
The IAAF World Championships will take place in Eugene, Oregon July 15-24.