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Junior Angela Bizzarri was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year.
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March 3, 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois women's cross country runners Angela Bizzarri and Chantelle Groenewoud were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team, while the entire Illini squad was honored as a USTFCCCA Women's All-Academic Team for the 2008 season.
The honor awards student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, an athlete must carry a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and finish in the top 15 finishers (or top 10 percent) at their respective NCAA regional meet or earn All-America honors at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Illinois was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for carrying a cumulative team GPA of 3.400. This is the second consecutive year the Orange and Blue have received the honor. To be eligible, a team must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and compete and compile a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet.
Bizzarri was named to the All-Academic Team for the second-consecutive year, earning cross country All-America honors for the third time in a many seasons after placing sixth at the 2008 NCAA Championships. The junior also finished runner-up for the third straight year at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. A molecular and cellular biology major, Bizzarri continues to excel academically as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree between cross country and track and field.
Groenewoud also received the honor, placing 15th at the NCAA Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships this season and finishing fourth for the Illini at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The sophomore is enrolled in Illinois' general curriculum.
The Big Ten had a total of 13 individual student-athletes and all 11 teams on the 2008 USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic list, leading all conferences. A total of 77 women's student-athletes across the country received the honor.
