Aug. 25, 2008
The Illinois women's cross country program has risen to national prominence in the last four years, working its way from never competing at the NCAA Championships to finishing in the top-10 at the national meet in three consecutive seasons. Second-year cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen looks to add to the recent tradition of success as the Illini are poised for the best season in school history.
"The goal for this year is to take ourselves from a top-10 team the last three years and make the podium at Nationals," Rasmussen said. "The next step to winning a national title is to get a trophy."
The Illini graduated just one senior, Rachel Hernandez, from the 2007 squad that finished sixth at the NCAA Championships - the second-best placing in Illinois history - and was runner-up at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. With the return of eight letterwinners combined with the addition of three talented freshmen, the intrasquad battle to making the Illini traveling roster will be as competitive as ever.
"This is a great thing for our program," Rasmussen said. "Because it will be more difficult to make the top eight, everyone will be pushing each other forward. That will only make us stronger."
Junior Angela Bizzarri is already etched in the Illinois record books as one of the best distance runners in school history and is looking to add to her list of accomplishments this season. The four-time All-American (two in cross country, one each in indoor and outdoor track and field) compiled an impressive all-around season in her sophomore campaign and was honored with Illinois' Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Award.
Bizzarri started 2007-08 by finishing 14th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships to earn her second consecutive All-America accolade, then anchored the Illini distance medley relay to a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Bizzarri's most impressive accomplishments came in the outdoor track and field season, however, as she was runner-up in the 5,000m at the NCAA Championships. She also was NCAA Mideast Regional champion in the 5,000m and advanced to finals in the event at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. This season, Bizzarri will aim for first place at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships and a top-10 finish at Nationals.
"(Bizzarri's) outdoor track season showed her the light," Rasmussen said. "She knows now that she can be one of the best in the nation and her ability to use that to her advantage in cross country will be a huge help in accomplishing her goals."
Seniors Katie Engel and Maggie Carroll also are expected to be big contributors as well as leaders for the Illini after being plagued with injuries last season. Engel was Illinois' second runner behind Bizzarri in 2007, earning All-Midwest Region and second team All-Big Ten honors before shin splints kept her from competing for much of the track and field season. Carroll did not compete at all in 2007-08 due to a broken foot, but is looking to return to her 2006 form, when she took 11th at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.
"Maggie is an All-Region and All-Big Ten performer, so getting her back into that type of shape will help our team tremendously," Rasmussen said. "Engel has always run well in cross country. She just has a tremendous amount of talent."
Other veterans to watch are juniors Stephanie Baliga, Theresa Brokaw and Shannon Phelan, who all competed at the Big Ten Championships last season and are returning letterwinners.
Sophomores Danelle Woods and Chantelle Groenewoud are poised for some strong performances as well after solid debut seasons. Both have championship experience, as each qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase and made the traveling roster last season to run at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Woods also was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2007 after being the top freshman finisher at the Big Ten Championships.
"This year, they already have the expectation of what it takes to move to that next level," Rasmussen said. "Danelle and Chantelle have developed a great support network of friends and teammates and should flourish more this year because of their surroundings."
Freshmen with the potential to be contributors in 2008 include Casey Miller, Amber Stack and Kristin Sutherland. Sutherland had an outstanding senior year at Carl Sandburg High School, winning the 2007 Illinois 3A cross country title and also placing first in the state track meet in the 3,2000m with a standout time of 10:31.34. Miller and Stack also boast big credentials, with Miller accumulating All-State cross country honors and 12 varsity letters in her high school career in Lewisburg, Pa., and Stack earning Illinois All-State cross country honors three times, including taking the state title in 2004.
"It's hard to say whether this freshmen class will make an immediate impact or not due to some summer illnesses and the competitiveness it will take to make the traveling squad," Rasmussen said. "But they definitely have the potential to do some big things this year and in the long run."
The Illini will aim for their strongest performances to come toward the end of the year, with hopes of a conference team title. The Big Ten is traditionally one of the strongest distance conferences in the nation, with seven nationally ranked teams in the 2007 cross country season.
"Being able to run well in the championship season is what our mantra needs to be," Rasmussen said. "We did a great job of that last year. The team knows we ran a great race at Big Tens and were still fourth as a team."
But the biggest goal for the Illini is to rewrite the history books by placing higher than ever before at the Big Ten and NCAA Championships, a perfect ending to what should be a successful and exciting 2008 season.
"In the end we hope to have up to five All-Region performers, two or three All-Big Ten individuals and really make a push at Nationals to have five athletes in the top 100," Rasmussen said. "If we can do that, we will definitely set ourselves up for a great opportunity to be a trophy team."
