An all-out team effort from the Bowerman Track Club resulted in an American record at the BU Last Chance Invitational on Thursday night.
Finishing with a swift kick on the homestretch, Karissa Schweizer crossed the line in 8:25:70 to become the new American record-holder in the 3,000 meters. Schweizer, 23, broke the previous indoor record of 8:33.25, set by her former training partner and now assistant coach Shalane Flanagan in 2007.
Schweizer and teammate Shelby Houlihan battled all the way into the finish line in the historic race. Behind Schweizer, Houlihan ran 8:26.66 for a nine-second personal best and Colleen Quigley followed for third in 8:28.71, a 16-second improvement. All three Bowerman athletes beat the previous American record and their times put them on the top 10 all-time list.
Only world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba (8:16.6), Meseret Defar (8:23.72), Meselech Melkamu (8:23.74), and Sentayehu Ejigu (8:25.27) have run faster than Schweizer in the event. Houlihan and Quigley are now No. 6 and No. 8 on the all-time list, respectively.
The race unfolded perfectly for the record to be broken. Kate Grace, the race’s pace-setter who also trains under coach Jerry Schumacher with the Bowerman Track Club, led Schweizer, Houlihan, and Quigley through the first 800 meters in 2:14, which at 8:22 pace was slightly faster than expected. But she slowed down to a more controlled split of 4:31 at 1600 meters. Grace brought the group through 2,000 meters, leaving Houlihan to lead the remaining kilometer.
As the U.S. 3,000-meter champion and American record-holder in the 5,000 meters (14:34), Houlihan was considered the favorite. But around 6:00 minutes into the race, Schweizer defied expectations and moved in front of Houlihan to the lead.
With one lap remaining, Houlihan ran ahead of her training partner but Schweizer remained on her heels. With 100 meters to go, Schweizer swung wide into the outside lane and sprinted past Houlihan for the win.
The former University of Missouri standout improved on the American record by eight seconds and ran a 16-second personal best.
Earlier in the competition, fellow Bowerman Track Club teammate Vanessa Fraser narrowly missed breaking the American indoor record in the 5,000 meters.
Behind race winner Konstanze Klosterhalfen—who achieved the No. 4 all-time performance by running 14:30.79—Fraser finished in 14:48.51. Her time was just one second slower than the American indoor record set by Flanagan in 2009.
Bowerman teammates Emily Infeld (14:51.91), Courtney Frerichs (15:02.91), and Gwen Jorgensen (15:10.98) followed with significant personal bests, as well.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
