TERRE HAUTE — While the top-ranked NCAA men’s and women’s cross country teams achieved national championship glory in 2008, neither of the No. 1 teams could make it happen this November.
In Monday’s women’s national championship race, the top two individual favorites also faltered. Colorado fifth-year senior Jenny Barringer, a U.S. Olympian, and Florida State’s Susan Kuijken struggled late on LaVern Gibson’s 6,000-meter course.
Illinois senior Angela Bizzarri held of Washington’s Kendra Schaaf to swipe the Fighting Illini’s first individual women’s title.
“Even during the last 600 (meters), I was shocked that I even had a chance to win,” Bizzarri said. ‘I knew before the race that I had the ability to win, but for it to be real is just amazing to me. For things to actually work out the way you want to, the way you've been training for and the way you’ve worked so hard for just doesn't always happen that way, so you just have to really embrace the times that it does.”
Following the Stanford men’s struggles, the top-ranked Washington women settled for third place.
The Huskies won their first cross country title last year, and struggled to defend, partly due to the loss of one of their top five to mononucleosis.
However, second-ranked Villanova put on such a dominant performance that it might not have mattered. Villanova’s top five runners totaled 86 points, Florida State was second at 133 and Washington third at 188.
With a string of six straight titles from 1989-94 and a seventh in 1998, the Wildcats could be considered the old guard in women’s cross country, with Washington hoping to be the new after winning a title with a young squad last year.
Gina Procaccio, the Villanova coach as well as a former Wildcat runner, was only concerned with her present team — although she was happy to proclaim the 11 year-long drought for a national title was over for her school.
“The girls ran phenomenal,” Procaccio said. “It has been an amazing season and all seven ran so well today. We continued to execute every race and stayed in the front pack the whole time.”
Villanova led the race throughout, with Florida State and Washington both challenging not too far behind.
“The difference between an average race and a great race can be a lot because there’s a lot of girls [at NCAAs],” said Washington senior Katie Follett, a three-time All-American. “It’s just whoever has all cylinders firing on that day. Props to Villanova, they ran great today.”
Kuijken still held on for third place to lift No. 8 Florida State to a surprising second-place result.
It was not surprising when Barringer and Kuijken pulled away from the pack. Barringer, who could have turned professional months ago but wanted to return for one last shot at NCAA glory, said she put too much pressure on herself.
“I’m human,” said Barringer, who stumbled to the ground at one point before finishing the race in 134th place. “There was a lot mounting up to this. It was important to me [to win], maybe I just made it a little too important.”
Kuijken could not hold onto the lead either, which Florida State coach Karen Harvey attributed to a rib problem that affects her breathing in long races.
However, Harvey has a special link with Bizzarri. Harvey recruited the Cincinnati prep standout when she was the Illinois coach.
“All I know is I know Angela Bizzarri and I know her family, and it couldn’t have happened to a better person,” Harvey said. “Angela put everything on the line and so did Susan for me. There’s no way we take second place without Susan and her ability and her leadership.”
2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships
Monday
At LaVern Gibson Championship Course
Women
Team scores — Villanova 86, Florida State 133, Washington 188, Texas Tech 191, Princeton 251, West Virginia 259, Florida 260, Duke 272, Oregon 276, Minnesota 310,
Providence 349, Illinois 365, New Mexico 368, Penn State 375, Virginia 391, Stanford 408, Iowa State 446, Syracuse 450, BYU 453, Colorado 458,
Georgetown 495, UTEP 500, Notre Dame 519, Arizona State 520, SMU 581, Michigan State 601, Michigan 637, Baylor 666, Ohio State 673, Arizona 682, Indiana 716.
Top 40 (All-Americans) — Angela Bizzarri (Illinois) 19:46.8, Kendra Schaaf (Washington) 19:51.6, Susan Kuijken (Florida State) 19:57.7, Catherine White (Virginia) 19:59.5, Allie McLaughlin (Colorado) 20:01.1, Amanda Marino (Villanova) 20:02.4, Megan Duwell (Minnesota) 20:06.9, Emily Infeld (Georgetown) 20:07.9, Risper Kimaiyo (UTEP) 20:10.9, Cecily Lemmon (BYU) 20:11.9,
Janet Jesang (Western Kentucky) 20:13.6, Lisa Koll (Iowa State) 20:15.5, Sheila Reid (Villanova) 20:16.3, Clara Grandt (West Virginia) 20:18.2, Rebecca Lowe (Florida) 20:188, Pasca Cheruiyot (Florida State) 20:22.2, Emily Pritt (N.C. State) 20:22.8, Jordan Hasay (Oregon) 20:23.1, 20:23.1, Lillian Badaru (Texas Tech) 20:24.2,
Liz Costello (Princeton) 20:24.3, Charlotte Browning (Florida) 20:25.7, Bogdana Mimic (Villanova) 20:26.6, Katie Follett (Washington) 20:32.0, Alison Smith (Villanova) 20:33.1, Purity Biwott (Texas Tech) 20:34.1, Bridget Franek (Penn State) 20:34.7, Megan Hogan (George Washington) 20:34.8, Stephanie Wilson (Santa Clara) 20:37.3, Carly Seymour (Duke) 20:37.5,
Nicole Schappert (Villanova) 20:38.1, Mel Lawrence (Washington) 20:38.5, Kaitlyn Peale (Michigan) 20:38.8, Beverly Ramos (Kansas State) 20:38.9, Christine Babcock (Washington) 20:42.6, Lindsey Ferguson (Notre Dame) 20:42.7, Marie-Louise Asselin (West Virginia) 20:42.8, Hannah Davidson (Providence) 20:42.8, Veronica Pohlh (Northern Arizona) 20:43.5, Amanda Winslow (Florida State) 20:43.7, Keri Bland (West Virginia) 20:44.9.
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Illinois’ Angela Bizzarri races to women’s title; Villanova claims team prize
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