April 20, 2006
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
Fighting Illini women's cross country coach Karen Harvey announced Thursday the incoming recruiting class that will join the Illinois cross country squad that finished fifth at the 2005 National Championships last fall. The nine-athlete class will have seven athletes compete with Harvey's cross country team, while two athletes will compete as middle distance runners for the track and field team.
"I would have to say this is one of my best classes since I have been at Illinois," Harvey said. "It is very balanced, two very talented names Bizzarri and Phelan, and many great Illinois kids that with time will make big impacts at Illinois. I am always very proud when the best kids in Illinois choose us because it tells me the distance program here is being recognized by high schools all across the State. It is a pleasure to coach kids that are so proud of their State and the U of I. Right now what the Illinois distance program needs is depth, and this is what this recruiting class has fulfilled."
Highlighting the class of 2010 are two highly recruited athletes in Angela Bizzarri (Mason, Ohio) and Shannon Phelan (Naperville, Ill.).
Bizzari, a five-time Ohio State Champion, comes from Mason high school in Mason, Ohio. Bizzari's high school bests include a 1,600-meter of 4:57, a 3,200-meter of 10:49 and a 5K cross country time of 18:07. The Ohio native plans to study Bio-Engineering.
"Angela comes to Illinois from an outstanding high school program at Mason high school," said Harvey. "She is a very recognized runner in Ohio and has become a dominant force in the distances at the State Meet. I have been recruiting her since last July so you can imagine that I feel very strongly that she will benefit the distance program and fit in very well at Illinois. Angela's smooth and strong stride, and her competitive spirit were things that stood out early in the recruiting process."
Phelan, the runner-up at the 2005 Illinois State Cross Country Championships, was the captain of the Naperville North team that won the 2005 State Championship. Phelan's high school bests include an 800-meter of 2:14, a 1,600-meter of 4:59 and a three-mile cross country time of 17:06. She plans on studying Biology.
"Angela (Bizzarri) will be joining Shannon Phelan, I think these two runners will compliment each other very nicely like Cassie Hunt and Jaime Turilli do now," Harvey said.
"They will be great training partners and future leaders on this team. Shannon continues to impress me, she had a very good indoor season and I am sure her last outdoor season under Coach Dan Iverson will be special."
Joining Bizzarri and Phelan as members of the incoming class are seven athletes from around the state of Illinois.
Theresa Brokaw, runner-up in the 800-meters and the 1,600-meters at the 2005 State Class A Championships, comes from West Central high school in Briggsville. Brokaw will be running cross country as well as long distance in track.
Taylor Bennett, a multi-sport athlete, excelled in basketball in her four years at Bishop McNamara high school in Kankakee. Bennett plans on running middle distance for the Illini during the track season and cross country in the fall.
Rachel Wyffels from Geneseo high school, Stephanie Baliga from Rockford high school and Abby Shunk from Rochester high school will each be running cross country along with having long distance duties during the track season for the Orange and Blue.
The two athletes from the incoming class that will strictly focus on running track for the
Illini are Stephanie Meyers and Cathryn Carroll.
Meyers, a multi-sport athlete, was a basketball and volleyball standout while at Litchfield high school. Meyers will be running middle distance in track.
Carroll, from Brimfield high school, already has a connection with the University of Illinois as her sister, Maggie is a sophomore trackster and cross country runner for the Orange and Blue. Cathryn will be running along side Maggie on the track next season as she will focus on the middle distance events for the Illini.
