Nov. 25, 2009

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Senior Angela Bizzarri was named the National Cross Country Athlete of the Year, announced Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Bizzarri garnered the honor two days after her remarkable NCAA Championship victory where she set a school-record 6K time of 19:46.8 to beat out the other 253 runners in the field.

"It's an awesome accomplishment because there are so many great athletes in the NCAA," Bizzarri said. "To be honored as the top athlete in cross country is just awesome. It's been a great season, and I really appreciate my coaching and athletic training staff because they helped me to stay healthy and to be in the best shape for the biggest meet."

The eight-time All-American is the first Illini to earn this accolade, capping off the most outstanding cross country season of Bizzarri's impressive collegiate career. One week ago, she took home Midwest Region Athlete of the Year honors after winning the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships by almost seven seconds with a time of 20:07.5.

Along with her NCAA Midwest Regional title, the Mason, Ohio, native also took the top spot at the Pre-Nationals Invitational on Oct. 17, beating out 246 other runners in the White Race. At the Big Ten Championships on Nov. 1, the senior had the highest showing of her career at the conference meet by finishing in second place to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors for the fourth consecutive year.

Bizzarri is the first national athlete of the year from Illinois since Justin Spring captured the Nissen-Emery Award for being the nation's top senior male gymnast in 2006.