University of Minnesota Athletics
2021-22 Women's Track & Field Roster
Sophie Schmitz
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Position:
- Distance
- High School:
- Willmar Senior HS
- Hometown:
- Willmar, Minn.
| PRONUNCIATION |
2021 Cross Country • Redshirt Senior Season: Named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree • finished 169th overall and 16th on the team in the women’s gold 6k race at the Roy Griak Invitational, crossing the line in 24:21.6 in her only competition of the season.
2020 Cross Country • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • did not compete.
2021 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Named team co-captain • competed at three meets • finished 19th in the 800m in 2:12.43 at the Big Ten Indoor Championships • ran a season-best 2:11.33 as 800m runner-up and ran on the runner-up distance medley relay at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational • won the 1,000m in a career-best 2:57.04 and ran the 4x400m relay at the Hawkeye Border Battle.
2021 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • competed at five meets • placed 18th in the 800m (2:10.97) at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships • ran a career-best 2:09.95 in the 800m at the Illini B1G Relays • won the distance medley relay in a Minnesota program record time of 11:03.01 at the Illini B1G Relays • ran on the runner-up 4x800m relay at the Illini B1G Relays, clocking a time of 8:41.19 to rank eighth on Minnesota’s all-time list • ran the 4x400m relay at two meets.
2019 Cross Country • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Earned first letter in cross country • ran four races • ran a career-best 5K time of 17:39.14 in the open race at the Notre Dame Invite • ran a season-best 6K time of 21:59.0 in the open race at the Nuttycombe Invitational.
2020 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • ran 10 races • placed seventh in the distance medley relay and ran a career-best 2:08.74 to place ninth in the 800m at the Big Ten Championships • ran a career-best 1:32.59 in the 600m at the Larry Wieczorek Invite • won the mile in a career-best 4:55.95 at the Minnesota Open • won the 800m at the Larry Wieczorek Invite and the McCravy Memorial • ended the season ranked 10th in the 800m (2:08.74) among all-time Gophers • indoor season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.
2020 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: The 2020 outdoor track & field season was canceled on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.
2018 Cross Country • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • ran four races • ran a season-best 22:54.2 as the seventh Gopher at the Tori Neubauer Invite.
2019 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Ran 11 races • ran a career-best 1:34.01 in the 600m at the Power Five Invite • ran a career-best 2:11.27 in the 800m at the ISU Classic • placed 19th in the 800m at the Big Ten Championship.
2019 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • letterwinner • ran nine races • ran a career-best 2:10.39 to place 16th in the 800m at the Big Ten Championship • ran a career-best 4:36.95 in the 1,500m at the Duke Invite • ran on the third-place 4x800m relay team at the Drake Relays to rank fourth in Minnesota history at 8:37.04 • ran on the sixth-place distance medley relay at the Drake Relays to rank seventh in Minnesota history at 11:26.49.
2017 Cross Country • Freshman Season: Redshirted the 2017 cross country season, racing unattached at five meets.
2018 Indoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Ran three races while competing unattached.
2018 Outdoor Track & Field • Freshman Season: Ran three races while competing unattached.
High School: A 2017 graduate of Willmar Senior High School • competed for coach Jerry Popp • seven-time letterwinner in cross country and track & field • six-time all-conference, four-time all-section, and 2016 all-state honoree in cross country • six-time cross country academic all-state honoree • three-time Nike Cross Nationals team qualifier, placing 14th in 2014, ninth in 2015, and fifth in 2016 • earned four top-three team finishes at Nike Cross Heartland Regional, including winning the team title as a junior and securing runner-up finishes as a senior and sophomore • four-time Minnesota Class AA State Cross Country Championship qualifier, placing 70th for 4K as a freshman (15:23.90), 45th for 4K as a sophomore (15:01.80), 31st for 5K as a junior (18:57.10), and 14th for 5K as a senior (18:58.20) • led Willmar to four-straight top-five team finishes at the Minnesota Class AA State Cross Country Championship, including back-to-back runner-up showings as a junior and senior • 2016 Central Lakes Conference champion (5K) • six-time all-conference, five-time all-section, and three-time all-state honoree in track & field • eight-time Minnesota Class AA State Track & Field Championships qualifier with appearances in the 400m (10th in 2014), 4x400m relay (13th in 2016, 12th in 2017), 800m (sixth in 2015, third in 2016, first in 2017), and 4x800m relay (fourth in 2016, 14th in 2017) • 800m state champion as a senior • led Willmar to back-to-back runner-up team showings at the Minnesota Class AA State Track & Field Championship as a junior and senior • seven-time Central Lakes Conference champion, winning the 400m in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and the 800m in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 • holds Willmar school records in the 4x800m relay and 800m • owns high school personal-best marks of 58.30 for 400m, 2:13.34 for 800m, 5:11.08 for 1600m, 12:08 for 3200m, 12:49.10 for 3K, and 18:00.08 for 5K.
Personal: Daughter of Paul and Regina Schmitz • has three siblings, Samuel, Claire, and Heidi • Human Physiology major • enjoys traveling, hiking, playing piano, singing, 3D art, and painting • National Honor Society member.
| Schmitz's Cross Country Career Bests (2021-22 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark | Meet (Date) |
| 5K | 17:39.14 | Notre Dame Invite (10/4/19) |
| 6K | 21:55.1 (UA) | Jack's Run (10/20/17) |
| Schmitz's Indoor Career Bests (2020-21 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark | Meet (Date) |
| 600m | 1:32.59 | Larry Wieczorek Invite (1/17/20) |
| 800m | 2:08.74 | Big Tens (2/28/20) |
| 1,000m | 2:57.04 | Hawkeye Border Battle (1/9/21) |
| Mile | 4:55.95 | Minnesota Open (1/11/20) |
| Schmitz's Outdoor Career Bests (2020-21 Final) | ||
| Event | Mark | Meet (Date) |
| 800m | 2:09.95 | Illini B1G Relays (4/23/21) |
| 1,500m | 4:36.95 | Duke Invite (4/20/19) |
