University of Illinois
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Four Illini Advance at NCAA Championships
June 11, 2009 | Women's Track & Field
June 11, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The No. 21 Illinois women's track and field team had a successful first day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, as four athletes advanced to another round of competition on Wednesday at John McDonnell Field. Juniors Angela Bizzarri (5,000m) and Aja Evans (shot put) advanced to finals of their respective events, while senior Deserea Brown and freshman Latoya Griffith qualified for semifinals of the 400m hurdles.
Participants at the championships endured a weather delay of over three hours due to severe thunderstorms in Fayetteville. At approximately 7 p.m. following the first round of the men's 400m hurdles, the meet was suspended until 10:15 p.m. because of rain and lightning.
"It was good that they were able to get the meet in tonight," head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "Deserea did a wonderful job in the 400 hurdles. She ran a season-best, executed well, looked confident and took over from the gun. Aja looked really confident and together and was able to qualify for finals on her second throw. And of course, Angela should be in good position for her final on Friday."
Bizzarri was scheduled to run the second heat of the 5,000m semifinal at 8:40 p.m., but her race did not start until 12:20 a.m. on Thursday due to the delay. The six-time All-American cruised to an automatic berth in the final with a time of 16:37.39, good enough for fourth in her heat. The 5,000m final will be held on Friday at 8:15 p.m., with Bizzarri owning the top seed time with a personal-best performance of 15:37.39.
Both Illinois entrants in the 400m hurdles advanced to tomorrow's semifinal, as Brown and Griffith each turned in a solid performance in the first round of the event. Brown ran a season-best time of 56.96 to win her heat by over a second and turn in the third-fastest time of the day. Griffith automatically advanced to the semis as well by finishing third in her heat with a time of 58.18. The 400m hurdles semifinal is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. tomorrow.
Evans fared well in the qualifying round of the shot put, notching the fourth-best throw of the day to easily advance to tomorrow's final. The junior launched a season-best throw of 54 feet, 10 3/4 inches (16.73m) in her second attempt. She will face off against the other 11 qualifiers in the shot put final on Thursday at 4:45 p.m., aiming to earn the third All-America accolade of her career.
In the 3,000m steeplechase semifinal, sophomore Chantelle Groenewoud ran a personal-best time of 10:17.37 to place 15th. Groenewoud missed the event final by one place, as the top 14 finishers in the semifinal advanced to Friday's final. She greatly improved on her time in the event at last season's NCAA Championships, when she ran 10:48.38 in the steeplechase semifinal as a freshman.
Sophomore Melissa Bates competed in the first round of the 400m, finishing 22nd overall and fourth in her heat with a time of 54.33. The women's 400m was the first race after the three-hour weather delay.
"She ran a pretty good time," Buford-Bailey said. "Melissa didn't even make regionals last year, so for her to be Big Ten champion and advance to nationals is a lot of accomplishments in one year."
Along with Evans, Brown and Griffith, the Illini 4x400m relay will also compete tomorrow at the NCAA Championships. The foursome of Brown, Omoye Ugiagbe, Ryisha Boyd and Bates will run in the event semifinal, scheduled to begin at 8:25 p.m.
Illinois Wednesday Results at NCAA Championships
Q/q = Advanced to Semifinal or Final
Shot Put Qualifying Round
4. Aja Evans............54-10 3/4 (16.73m) q
400m Hurdles First Round
3. Deserea Brown............56.96 Q
13. Latoya Griffith............58.18 Q
400m First Round
22. Melissa Bates............54.33
3,000m Steeplechase Semifinal
15. Chantelle Groenewoud............10:17.37
5,000m Semifinal
7. Angela Bizzarri............16:37.39 Q
Illinois Remaining Schedule at NCAA Championships
Thursday, June 11
4:45 p.m.............Shot Put Final (Aja Evans)
6:45 p.m.............400m Hurdles Semifinal (Deserea Brown, Latoya Griffith)
8:25 p.m.............4x400m Relay Semifinal (Deserea Brown, Omoye Ugiagbe, Ryisha Boyd, Melissa Bates)
Friday, June 12
7:55 p.m.............400m Hurdles Final
8:15 p.m.............5,000m Final (Angela Bizzarri)
Saturday, June 13
1:35 p.m.............4x400m Relay Final
