Nov. 14, 2009
Complete Results
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- After tallying three consecutive runner-up finishes at the past three NCAA Midwest Regionals, senior and seven-time All-American Angela Bizzarri won the 6K race on Saturday with a time of 20:07.5 and earned All-Region honors for the fourth consecutive year. The No. 13-ranked Illinois women's cross country team placed second at the Missouri State Cross Country Course, as four runners finished in the top 25 to garner All-Region honors. By finishing among the top-two teams at the meet, the Illini earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind.
The Illini had a team total of 86 points and were 26 points behind champion Minnesota. The runner-up finish for the Orange and Blue marks the third time in three years that the Illini have taken home second place at this meet, as well as the third time in as many years that the Illini have been defeated by Big Ten rival Minnesota. The Orange and Blue have experienced much success at this meet, and for the past seven years, they have placed in the top-two and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
"Our goal for this meet was to be one of the top-two teams, and we achieved this goal so we are proud of that," women's cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "Angela (Bizzarri) and Kristin (Sutherland) ran very solid races today and Jamie (Brusa) also had a great race and a personal best. We are happy for the most part, and we are now looking ahead to Nationals.
"Angela remained consistent today as she has been this whole year. She had a great race, and it was nice to see her win after she has come in second-place at this meet for the past three years."
Bizzarri's win marks only the second time an Illini runner has taken the top spot at this meet, with Cassie Hunt's victory in 2004 being the only other time an Illini has accomplished this feat. The senior is the first Illini to ever place in the top 10 at the NCAA Regional Championships all four years. This victory is Bizzarri's second individual win of the year, including her victory at the Pre-National Invitational, and the third individual win of her career.
Sophomore Kristin Sutherland continued to build on her successful season by finishing in fourth place with a 6K time of 20:44.1. This is the second time Sutherland has garnered All-Region honors, after placing 17th at last year's meet as a freshman. Senior Elizabeth Boyle (12th, 21:12.5) and junior Chantelle Groenewoud (23rd, 21:34.2) also received All-Region honors for the second straight year for their impressive performances at the meet.
Jamie Brusa also scored for the Illini, coming in 51st place with a time of 22:07.4, which was a 6K personal-best for the junior.
"For Nationals, we need to focus on racing together which is something we haven't really done yet this year," Rasmussen said. "This week in practice we will work on helping each other out during the race and running together. If we do that, then we should be in good shape for Nationals."
The Illini will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., for the NCAA National Championships on Monday, Nov. 23 at 12 p.m. CT.
Illinois Results
1. Angela Bizzarri 20:07.5
4. Kristin Sutherland 20:44.1
12. Elizabeth Boyle 21:12.5
23. Chantelle Groenewoud 21:34.2
51. Jamie Brusa 22:07.4
70. Ashley Thompson 22:38.0
71. Danelle Woods 22:39.4
Team Results (Top Five)
1. Minnesota 60
2. ILLINOIS 86
3. Iowa State 106
4. Nebraska 147
5. Iowa 160
