June 11, 2010
Results
EUGENE, Ore. - On Friday at the NCAA Championships, two Illini senior All-Americans wrapped up their collegiate careers at Hayward Field. In the shot put, Aja Evans closed out her season with an 11th-place finish, but took home All-America honors for the second straight year for finishing among the top eight Americans in the event. In the 5,000m, Angela Bizzarri stuck with the eventual champion Lisa Koll (15:23.80) of Iowa State for the first 4k, but dropped out of the race with a thousand meters to go and did not finish the race.
"I just felt myself get too nervous for the race and couldn't really calm down and just didn't get in the right mindset during the race," Bizzarri said. "I think even going into the race I didn't have the right mindset. And it kind of always affects how you feel during the race and what you're thinking about.
"Obviously, I would have liked to have a better ending to my senior year, but I've had a lot of great experiences and I should continue, hopefully, to have some great running experiences. It's unfortunate, but I've had a lot of great races and a lot of great memories. One bad race doesn't really make up for all the great races I've had throughout the last four years."
Bizzarri did not end her career the way she envisioned, but she will leave Illinois with three individual national championships, which is tied with Perdita Felicien for the most in Illinois history, and nine All-America accolades between cross country and track and field. The Mason, Ohio, native turned in one of the greatest collegiate seasons ever, as she won the 2009 cross country national title in November and the indoor 3,000m crown in March.
"Even though Angela didn't finish her career the way she wanted to, it still doesn't take away from all of her accomplishments," head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "Angela has been instrumental to the recent success of this program and will go down as the best distance runner in Illinois history."
Evans turned in her top throw on her second attempt, recording a mark of 52 feet, 11 1/2 inches (16.14m), but was unable to advance to the finals of the event. The Chicago, Ill., native wraps up her time at Illinois with five All-America honors, including three indoor and two outdoor laurels.
While the season is complete for the Illinois women's track and field team, both Evans and Bizzarri will be back in action in two weeks at the USA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, along with teammates Tamika Robinson, Kawanna Brooks, Marissa Golliday and Kayla Smith.
Illinois Friday Results at the NCAA Championships
5,000m (FINAL)
DNF Angela Bizzarri
Shot Put (FINAL)
11. Aja Evans 52-11 ½ (16.14m) *earned All-America honors
