Nov. 1, 2009
Photo Gallery 
Big Ten Cross Country Championships-Women's Complete Results 
University Park, Pa.-- The No. 13-ranked Illinois women's cross country team came in second place at the Big Ten Championships on Sunday at the Penn State Blue-White Course. The Illini had an astounding four runners earn All-Big Ten honors, and were led by senior Angela Bizzarri, who finished in second place individually with a 6K time of 20:10.
Illinois had a team total of 77 points and were a mere six points away from Big Ten champion Penn State, who had 71 points. Bridget Franek of Penn State won the individual title for the meet crossing the finish line in 20:03, seven seconds in front of Bizzarri. The runner-up finish for the Illini was its best since 2005, where the Illini also finished second behind Michigan, and the fourth in school history.
"Overall today, we ran really well," women's cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "Obviously having four girls earn All-Big Ten Honors was awesome. All four of them really got into the race early and got in really good position to be able to compete with the front group throughout the whole race.
"We might have ran out of room a little bit at the end of the race, and we might have been able to push a little harder during the middle of the race. Overall though, they really ran well. Ashley (Thompson) had a personal record today and a few of the others had personal records. Anytime we can go to a championship and get personal records is really good for us. We did well today, just a little bit short of our mark."
Bizzarri's second-place showing was the highest of her career at the championships, and she also earned her fourth consecutive first-team All-Big Ten honors for her performance. That marks the first time an Illini runner has earned this honor four times. The Mason, Ohio native finished seventh at last year's Big Ten Championships, third in 2007 and fifth in 2006.
"Angela ran great today," Rasmussen said. "Immediately she was out and running in the front group. Her and Bridget Franek battled the whole way. Angela had her rhythm broke during the race and that hurt her a little bit. But she battled until the finish and obviously being able to come in second is a great thing."
Sophomore Kristin Sutherland also had the best finish of her career at this meet, coming in seventh place with a 6K time of 20:41. Sutherland received first-team All-Big Ten honors as well for placing among the top seven runners at the meet.
Senior Elizabeth Boyle came in 11th overall (21:00) and junior Chantelle Groenewoud raced to 13th (21:02), both earning second-team All-Big Ten honors for placing in the top 14. Rounding out the top five for the Illini was junior Ashley Thompson, who had a personal-best 6K time of 21:58 to place 44th.
"The last few years we've done well at Big Tens, and we continue to do well for the rest of the year," Rasmussen said. "We are in that spot again this year. We are continuing to foster Ashley (Thompson), Jamie (Brusa) and Danelle (Woods). Those three are really working together to pick up that fifth spot. If we can continue to work on that, then we are going to be pretty good. We are going to continue to get better and better, not only for Regionals but also for Nationals in three weeks."
The Illini will have a week off before traveling to Springfield, Mo., for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships on Nov. 14.
Illinois Results:
2. Angela Bizzarri 20:10
7. Kristin Sutherland 20:41
11. Elizabeth Boyle 21:00
13. Chantelle Groenewoud 21:02
44. Ashley Thompson 21:58
54. Danelle Woods 22:16
56. Jamie Brusa 22:18
72. Theresa Brokaw 22:37
88. Meghan Murphy 23:20
Team Results:
1. Penn State 71
2. ILLINOIS 77
3. Minnesota 80
4. Michigan 122
5. Michigan State 137
6. Iowa 150
7. Indiana 161
8. Ohio State 164
9. Purdue 204
10. Wisconsin 254
11. Northwestern 326
