University of Illinois
NCAA Mideast Regional Championships
Bizzarri Runs Second Fastest 1500m in School History
May 25, 2007 | Women's Track & Field
May 25, 2007
Columbia, Mo. - The Illini women's track & field team competed in seven events today during the first day of the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, hosted by the University of Missouri at Audrey J. Walton Stadium. Highlighting the action, Illinois had five individuals as well as its 4x100m relay qualify for tomorrow's finals while in the field, Mariesa Greene scored three points with a sixth place finish in the javelin.
Freshman Angela Bizzarri had arguably the top performance by the UI on the day, setting a personal best in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:20.96. She finished fourth in her heat to qualify for tomorrow's final. Bizzarri's time ranks as the second fastest in Illinois history, behind only the school 1500m record of 4:17.50 set by Julie Lantis in 1984.
Three Illini athletes qualified for the final in the 400-meter hurdles, led by senior Carlene Robinson who won her heat and ran the No. 2 overall time with a season's best 57.46. Fellow senior Camile Robinson also won her heat, posting the No. 5 time of 58.67. Sophomore Briana Cunningham was the third qualifier, running a personal best time of 59.15 to rank eighth in the prelims.
In the 100-meter hurdles, junior LaNeisha Waller won her heat with the No. 4 overall time of 13.41 to advance to tomorrow's final. The 4x100-meter relay team of junior Tiara Armstrong, Waller, Carlene Robinson and senior Yvonne Mensah also qualified, finishing second in their heat and sixth overall with a time of 45.06.
Junior Mariesa Greene did well in her signature event, the javelin, just missing a trip to the NCAA Championships. Greene finished sixth in the javelin with a mark of 149 feet, 10 inches. The top five finishers in each event advance to nationals.
The NCAA Mideast Regional Championships conclude tomorrow. Illinois athletes begin competing at 2:30 p.m. with Amanda Pintaro, Ashley Whittaker and Jacqueline Ziegler in the pole vault. The 4x100m relay final is set for 4:10 p.m., while Mensah and senior Kristina Jones begin the triple jump at 4:15 p.m. Bizzarri heads to the track for the 1500m final at 4:30 p.m., followed by Waller in the 100m hurdles final at 4:55 p.m. The Robinson twins and Cunningham will compete in the 400m hurdles final at 5:50 p.m. Taylor Bennett wraps up the meet for the Illini, running the 3000m steeplechase at 6:40 p.m.
Live results for the Mideast Regional Championships can be found at the University of Missouri website.
Illinois Results - NCAA Mideast Regional Championships (Day 1) 100m Dash Prelims 13. Yvonne Mensah 11.85 15. Tiara Armstrong 11.89400m Dash Prelims 14. Omoye Ugiagbe 54.51
1500m Run Prelims 7. Angela Bizzarri 4:20.96 Q 13. Katie Engel 4:23.80
100m Hurdles Prelims 4. LaNeisha Waller 13.41 Q -- Nikkita Holder DNF
400m Hurdles Prelims 2. Carlene Robinson 57.46 Q 5. Camile Robinson 58.67 Q 8. Briana Cunningham 59.15 Q 12. Alondra Cooper 1:00.79
4x100m Relay Prelims 6. Tiara Armstrong, LaNeisha Waller, Carlene Robinson, Yvonne Mensah 45.06 Q
Javelin Final 6. Mariesa Greene 149-10 (45.66m)
Q = Qualified for Saturday's finals
