Nov. 23, 2009

NCAA Team Results  | NCAA Individual Results 
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Bizzarri FloTrack Interview
Rasmussen FloTrack Interview
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Senior Angela Bizzarri won the 2009 NCAA Cross Country national title on Monday at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, smashing her previous personal-best set at last year's NCAA Championships by 13 seconds and finishing the 6K race with a time of 19:46. This marks the second national title for Bizzarri in less than six months, after capturing the 5,000m title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June. Bizzarri becomes the first Illinois women's cross country runner to ever win the NCAA cross country title, and the first Illini cross country champion since Craig Virgin took home the title in 1975.

"This was my last cross country race, and it was a perfect way to end it," Bizzarri said. "I didn't want to start out the race too fast because I prefer going out more even. But I still wanted to keep in close contact with the lead group, and I felt like I did a good job with that. Eventually with the last two or three kilometers, the front of the pack started coming back to me and I was able to capitalize on that, which worked out to my advantage. It was a great race, and I am so excited."

Colorado senior Jenny Barringer was favored to win the race and was neck and neck with Florida State senior Susan Kuijken after two kilometers. The two were far ahead of the rest of the pack and had a five second lead on Bizzarri. After four kilometers, Kuijken had an impressive 13-second lead over Bizzarri, Washington sophomore Kendra Schaaf and Villanova sophomore Sheila Reid. Favorite Barringer had faded from the front of the pack by this time after collapsing midway through the race and ended up placing 163rd.

Making the final turn with about 500 meters remaining, Bizzarri and Schaaf went by Kuijken and began the long sprint home. With 100 meters left to go, Bizzarri used her signature kick to surpass Schaaf and capture the victory.