Oct. 13, 2007
Pre-Nationals Team Results - White Division race
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Pre-Nationals Individual Results - White Division race
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Pre-Nationals open race results
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Sophomore Angela Bizzarri finished fourth overall and led the Fighting Illini women's cross country team to a fifth-place finish in their 6K White Division race at Saturday's Pre-National competition held in Terre Haute, Ind.
No. 10 Illinois, which faced a stacked field of 10 nationally ranked teams in the White Division race, tallied 189 points to take fifth-place. No. 8 Princeton totaled 149 to take first overall, with No. 6 Arizona State and No. 13 Michigan coming in second and third. The Orange and Blue were just 18 points behind No. 12 Washington, which took fourth with 187 points.
"We ran a solid race," cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "We went out patient which was good and kept competing through then entire race. Obviously Angela ran a great race, and our two through five runners really ran as a pack and worked together. It was great how they helped each other along and worked as a team."
Crossing second for Illinois and 33rd overall was junior Katie Engel with a time of 21:00. Freshman Danelle Woods finished third for the Illini and 47th overall with 21:11, while sophomore Stephanie Baliga and senior Rachel Hernandez finished strong together, clocking a time of 21:17 in 52nd and 53rd place, respectively. Rounding out the top seven for the Orange and Blue were sophomore Theresa Brokaw with a 6K personal-best time of 21:39 (89) and freshman Chantelle Groenewoud (92nd, 21:41).
Other members of the Fighting Illini competed in the open race. Sophomore Stephanie Phelan came in 23rd overall with a time of 22:07, while junior Liz Mengyan followed closely in 29th with a 22:12. Sophomore Abby Shunk (40th, 22:28), sophomore Jamie Brusa (48th, 22:37) and freshman Kate Tysse (52nd, 22:42) competed as well.
"We`re looking forward to starting the championship season," Rasmussen said. "But each race is going to be a battle from here on out. Coming in only 18 points shy from second-place today, we have to understand more and more than each individual place is going to count."
The Illini will take next weekend off to train for the Big Ten Championships on Oct. 28 in Columbus, Ohio.
Illinois Results:
1) Angela Bizzarri (4) 20:13
2) Katie Engel (33) 21:00
3) Danelle Woods (47) 21:11
4) Stephanie Baliga (52) 21:17
5) Rachel Hernandez (53) 21:17
6) Theresa Brokaw (89) 21:39
7) Chantelle Groenewoud (92) 21:41
