Houlihan, Schweizer Re-Write U.S. Recordbook For 5,000 Meters

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor 

PORTLAND -- Shelby Houlihan and Karissa Schweizer authored the most significant race of the star-crossed 2020 season on a quiet Friday night at Jesuit High. 

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The Bowerman Track Club teammates, running in ideal time trial conditions and paced by an all-star crew of teammates, pushed well under Houlihan's American record. 

Building on a stack of nearly identical 70-second laps, Houlihan fended off three challenges from Schweizer on the straightaways and used her superior kick over the final 150 meters to clock 14:23.92. Schweizer, a fellow Iowa native, was second in 14:26.34. 

Those are the two fastest times in U.S. history, making them the 12th- and 14th-fastest performers in world history. Houlihan's performance is the second-fastest ever on U.S. soil. 

Houlihan previously broke Shannon Rowbury's American record when she ran 14:34.45 in 2018 in Belgium.

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"We had our awesome teammates out there and they were nailing what they were suposed to do," Houlihan said. "It was pretty perfect. We just had to squeeze down the last 1,200ish (meters)."

The orchestration of the pace-setting, led first by Colleen Quigley and then Courtney Frerichs and after that Elise Cranny, kept speed consistent and allowed Houlihan and Schweizer to get comfortable and stay relaxed. 

Quigley stepped off the gas at 2,000 meters (5:51) and Frerichs peeled out of the lead just before 3,000 meters, which was split at 8:47. Cranny kept the pace going past 3,500 meters, when Houlihan passed her with Schweizer right behind. 

"I knew Karissa was going to come up and try to take the lead. She does that every time," Houlihan said. "And I was not going to let that happen. I just kept fighting her off."

Schweizer's moves to draw even and go past Houlihan served to spur her teammate to focus and keep digging."

"We're both very good teammates but we're also very competitive when it comes to a race," Schweizer said. "It's really cool to see beause we know each other's strengths and weaknesses."

The protocols for maintaining a safe environment for the athletes remained strict. But unlike the first intrasquad event for the group June 30 at Jesuit, there were more spectators but they were confined to four quadrants surrounding the track and all had to wear masks and maintain personal distance.