April 18, 2009

Results

Mt. SAC Relays 5,000m Invitational Results

WALNUT Calif. - Junior Angela Bizzarri continued to solidify her position as one of the top athletes in Illinois women's track and field history on Friday night, running the top 5,000m time in the country and resetting her own school record at the Mt. SAC Relays.

The Illini's six-time All-American timed 15:37.39 to place third in the invitational division of the race, finishing behind two 2008 Olympians in Kenya's Philes Moraa Ongori (15:23.33, first) and the United States' Christin Wurth-Thomas (15:34.39, second). The closest collegiate athlete to Bizzarri was Washington's Anita Campbell, who finished seventh in a time of 15:45.85.

Bizzarri now has the fastest 5,000m time in the NCAA so far this season. Prior to her performance, the best time in the country was run by Oregon's Nicole Blood (15:42.13). The Illini junior easily qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships and also broke her own school record of 15:45.78 ran at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She is the reigning national runner-up in the 5,000m, and should be one of the favorites to win the NCAA title in the event come June.

Freshman Kristin Sutherland also had a noteworthy performance in the 5,000m at the Mt. SAC Relays, qualifying for the NCAA Regional Championships with a time of 16:43.47. Sutherland placed eighth in the open division of the race in her first time ever running the event for the Illini.

Junior Elizabeth Boyle just missed the regional qualifying standard of 16:52,00 in the 5,000m, timing 16:53.66 to place fifth in her heat.Sophomore Shannon Phelan ran the open division of the 1,500m, timing a personal-best 4:32.48 to place 20th.

Illinois track and field action resumes on Saturday afternoon, with athletes competing at the LSU Alumni Gold Meet and Purdue's Dave Rankin Invitational.