2017 FloXC Countdown: #22 Missouri Women
2017 FloXC Countdown: #22 Missouri Women
The University of Missouri women rank No. 22 in the 2017 FloXC Pre-Season Rankings.
Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where we rank the pre-season top 25 cross country teams and individuals heading into the NCAA season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 22 women's spot goes to Missouri, and here's why:
SR Karissa Schweizer (9:06 3K; 15:19 5K; 1st at '16 NCAA XC, 1st at '17 NCAA Indoor/Outdoor 5K)
SR Jamie Kempfer (9:26 3K; 16:05 5K; 33:09 10K, 27th at '16 NCAA XC, 9th at '17 NCAA 10K)
SR Kaitlyn Fischer (9:40 3K; 16:33; 5K; 33:12 10K, 222nd at '16 NCAA XC, 79th at '13 NCAA XC)
SO Jordyn Kleve (9:50 3K; 17:00 5K; 227th at '16 NCAA XC)
Jenna Lutzow via Belvidere, IL (2:11 800; 5:07 1600; 1st at '16 IL State XC)
Shannon Browning via Burke, VA (2:16 800; 4:57 1600)
Sophia Racette via USC (17:28 5K; 91st at '16 NCAA West XC)
Kayla Funkenbusch via Kansas (4:39 1500; 10:35 3K)
Melissa Menghini via New Hampshire (10:59 3200; 17:54 5K)
Last fall marked a historic season for the Tigers as the women's program qualified for its first NCAA XC championship since 2004 and junior Karissa Schweizer became the first individual NCAA XC champion in Mizzou history. Schweizer would ride the momentum of her Terre Haute win to sweep the NCAA indoor and outdoor 5K titles later in the school year. She returns for her senior year as the overwhelming favorite for the individual crown, as well as one half of an indomitable one-two punch along with returning All-American Jamie Kempfer, who placed 27th in her debut at the NCAA XC championships last fall and ninth in the 10K at this spring's NCAA championships.
The Tigers placed 16th at NCAAs last year after winning the Midwest region in a close battle with Oklahoma State and Iowa State, both of which pose a challenge once again. Behind Schweizer and Kempfer, they lose their three and four in Nicole Mello and Teylar Adelsberger to graduation, which leaves the rest of the scoring positions wide open. Jordyn Kleve and Kaitlyn Fischer return after trading off the No. 5 position last year; Fischer in particular is worth watching as she was an individual qualifier to the 2013 NCAA XC Championships and went on to run 33:12 for 10K the following spring and place ninth at the NCAA Outdoor championships.
There are several new faces who are likely to mix up the top five lineup for the Tigers: transfers Sophia Racette, Kayla Funkenbusch, and Melissa Menghini (see above notes for respective PRs), as well as true freshmen Jenna Lutzow, the Illinois 2A state cross country champion, and Shannon Browning, a 4:57 miler who ran on several national title-winning relays for Lake Braddock High over the past few years.
It's also worth noting that senior Megan Cunningham, who has not cross country since the 2014 season, lowered her 5K PB to 16:45 this spring after running just 17:29 last year.
FULL WOMEN'S RANKINGS HERE
Probable Top Four:
SR Karissa Schweizer (9:06 3K; 15:19 5K; 1st at '16 NCAA XC, 1st at '17 NCAA Indoor/Outdoor 5K)
SR Jamie Kempfer (9:26 3K; 16:05 5K; 33:09 10K, 27th at '16 NCAA XC, 9th at '17 NCAA 10K)
SR Kaitlyn Fischer (9:40 3K; 16:33; 5K; 33:12 10K, 222nd at '16 NCAA XC, 79th at '13 NCAA XC)
SO Jordyn Kleve (9:50 3K; 17:00 5K; 227th at '16 NCAA XC)
Impact Freshmen/Transfers:
Jenna Lutzow via Belvidere, IL (2:11 800; 5:07 1600; 1st at '16 IL State XC)
Shannon Browning via Burke, VA (2:16 800; 4:57 1600)
Sophia Racette via USC (17:28 5K; 91st at '16 NCAA West XC)
Kayla Funkenbusch via Kansas (4:39 1500; 10:35 3K)
Melissa Menghini via New Hampshire (10:59 3200; 17:54 5K)
Analysis:
Last fall marked a historic season for the Tigers as the women's program qualified for its first NCAA XC championship since 2004 and junior Karissa Schweizer became the first individual NCAA XC champion in Mizzou history. Schweizer would ride the momentum of her Terre Haute win to sweep the NCAA indoor and outdoor 5K titles later in the school year. She returns for her senior year as the overwhelming favorite for the individual crown, as well as one half of an indomitable one-two punch along with returning All-American Jamie Kempfer, who placed 27th in her debut at the NCAA XC championships last fall and ninth in the 10K at this spring's NCAA championships.
The Tigers placed 16th at NCAAs last year after winning the Midwest region in a close battle with Oklahoma State and Iowa State, both of which pose a challenge once again. Behind Schweizer and Kempfer, they lose their three and four in Nicole Mello and Teylar Adelsberger to graduation, which leaves the rest of the scoring positions wide open. Jordyn Kleve and Kaitlyn Fischer return after trading off the No. 5 position last year; Fischer in particular is worth watching as she was an individual qualifier to the 2013 NCAA XC Championships and went on to run 33:12 for 10K the following spring and place ninth at the NCAA Outdoor championships.
There are several new faces who are likely to mix up the top five lineup for the Tigers: transfers Sophia Racette, Kayla Funkenbusch, and Melissa Menghini (see above notes for respective PRs), as well as true freshmen Jenna Lutzow, the Illinois 2A state cross country champion, and Shannon Browning, a 4:57 miler who ran on several national title-winning relays for Lake Braddock High over the past few years.
It's also worth noting that senior Megan Cunningham, who has not cross country since the 2014 season, lowered her 5K PB to 16:45 this spring after running just 17:29 last year.
FULL WOMEN'S RANKINGS HERE