Bizzarri wins national title

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Angela Bizzarri has won an NCAA title as the favorite and, now, as one of the underdogs.

The Illinois senior definitely prefers being in the latter role.

"I think this time not being the favorite was great," Bizzarri said Monday after adding a national cross-country crown to the 5,000-meter track title she won last spring. "I wasn't really nervous."

Well, maybe just a tad during the final 300 or so meters of the 6-kilometer race. By then, the hard-charging Bizzarri was out in front and wishing she had a rearview mirror.

"I was actually wondering where they were at," the four-time cross-country All-American said. "I was hoping they weren't coming up on me. It's hard when you are in the front and you can't see where they're at."

As it turned out, no one would catch Bizzarri, whose career-best time of 19 minutes, 46.8 seconds was nearly five seconds faster than runner-up Kendra Schaaf. The Washington sophomore finished in 19:51.6.

Bizzarri is the second Illini to win a national title in cross-country, joining 1975 men's champion Craig Virgin, who was on hand to congratulate the Mason, Ohio, native afterward. Her previous best finish at the NCAA Championships occurred last year, when she came in sixth in a then-career-best 19:59.1.

"It's a great way to end my senior season," Bizzarri said. "It was really an unexpected thing. I wasn't expected to win going into it."

Indeed, this meet was projected to be a duel between Colorado senior Jenny Barringer – a 2008 Olympian and three-time NCAA steeplechase champion – and Florida State senior Susan Kuijken, who finished second in 2008 and third in 2007.

"We knew going in that they were probably going to go battle each other really hard and one of them might fall (off)," Illini coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "That was our hope going in. ... Angela was there that if they did fall, she would be able to strike. And that's exactly what she did."

Barringer literally fell midway through the race and ended up finishing 163rd. Kuijken, who is coached by former Illini coach Karen Harvey, led by 13 seconds at the 4K mark but faded thereafter and finished third.

"I knew I was in good shape, and if I ran a smart race and I tried my hardest, I knew it would turn out OK," Bizzarri said. "No matter how it turned out, as long as I did those two things I would have been happy."

In the end, the NCAA Midwest Regional champion couldn't have been happier, telling Rasmussen: "Coach, it was awesome!"

Such exuberance wasn't exactly apparent when Bizzarri won her NCAA track title in June.

"I think I'm still getting used to being the favorite," she said. "Especially last spring, I was really nervous going into the race. I still won, but I didn't feel as comfortable as maybe I should have. I made it harder on myself because of my nerves."

This time, Bizzarri was all smiles and the picture of satisfaction as she accepted the winner's medal and champion's plaque. More hardware likely is coming her way, too.

"She should be national Runner of the Year," Rasmussen said.

Bizzarri can expect a major bump to her national profile, as well, after what she accomplished Monday on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course.

"People know she's good, but she doesn't get talked about a whole lot," Rasmussen said. "She's definitely flown under the radar for being really good, and that's probably over."

No. 16 Illinois finished 12th in the team standings, ending a streak of top-10 finishes the previous four years. Sophomore Kristin Sutherland was the No. 2 Illini finisher, placing 41st in 20:45.9.

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