Track star Angela Bizzarri adds award to storied career

Wesley Fane The Daily Illini

Self-improvement has always been the goal for Angela Bizzarri.

The two-time national champion (cross country and 5,000 meters) is one of the most decorated Illini in the history of the prestigious University. After adding the first two individual Big Ten Indoor titles of her career and two more school records in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters to a storied list of personal achievements, the senior said she has just wanted to add to the great reputation of the University of Illinois as a student-athlete.

“I know there are a lot of great students and a lot of great athletes here. It’s a big university that has a lot of prominence,” Bizzarri said. “I feel like I have had a positive influence on all of the people I have been around. It’s not just athletics. It’s academics, too.”

Bizzarri’s hard work in the classroom as well as on the track has paid off. On Monday, she was named the cross country Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2009 season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Monday’s award was just the icing on the cake that was Bizzarri’s weekend.

On Saturday, she edged Penn State’s Bridget Franek in the 3,000 meters en route to winning her first individual Big Ten title and setting a new school record. The senior used her signature kick to pull away at the end, something head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said has always distinguished Bizzarri as one of the great Illini runners.

“Angela Bizzarri is hands down the best distance runner in the history of this school,” Buford-Bailey said. “She has that extra little kick that elevates her to a completely different tier, which a lot of other girls can’t keep up with.”

Bizzarri was still not finished breaking records and winning titles for the weekend. On Sunday, she broke her own school record in the 5,000 meters to win her second title of the meet. Although she continues to break record after record, Bizzarri said her goal going into any race does not change.

“I always want to set a PR (personal record), and when you get to the certain point that I am, your PRs create a higher standard,” Bizzarri said. “Improving on myself becomes a little bit harder, and it puts me into a higher class of athlete than it would say three or four years ago.”

Bizzarri’s constant desire to get better will serve her well at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 12 and 13. Last season, Bizzarri finished fourth in the 3,000, but she said she has not decided if she will run in the 3,000 or 5,000 this season. Bizzarri said her reputation follows her because of her success in big races.

“The past few years, I’ve won big meets,” Bizzarri said. “At some point when you’re running fast and winning races, people notice.”

Despite her reputation, Bizzarri said the other runners should not fear her.

“I don’t fear other runners when I run, so I hope that other runners don’t fear me,” Bizzarri joked. “I’m pretty nice and I won’t be mean or hurt them. I do have sharp elbows, but I don’t use them very often.”