illiniguy wrote:
http://illinihq.com/news/track/2010/06/12/bizzarri_explains_race_withdrawalEUGENE, Ore. - Angela Bizzarri says a case of nerves led to her sudden withdrawal from the 5,000 meters late in the race on Friday night at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Illinois senior - a three-time NCAA titlist and the defending champion in the race - stopped running, left the track and slumped to the ground on the infield with about 1,000 meters left. At that point in the race, Bizzarri was close behind leader and eventual winner Lisa Koll of Iowa State in what had become a two-runner duel for first place.
"I just felt myself get too nervous for the race and couldn't really calm down and just didn't get in the right mindset during the race," Bizzarri said Saturday. "I think even going into the race I didn't have the right mindset. And it kind of always affects how you feel during the race and what you're thinking about."
Bizzarri said the anxiety did not cause any physical issues, such as hyperventilation.
"It just made it more tough mentally," she said.
The nine-time All-American said she felt uncharacteristically on edge before the race.
"I'm usually a really relaxed person and it takes me a lot to get worked up and not be relaxed on the starting line," she said. "I just think I let myself get a little too nervous."
The race was the final one of an Illini career that produced NCAA titles in cross-country, the indoor 3,000 and the outdoor 5,000 as well as numerous school records.
"Obviously, I would have liked to have a better ending to my senior year, but I've had a lot of great experiences and I should continue, hopefully, to have some great running experiences," Bizzarri said. "Obviously, it's unfortunate, but I've had a lot of great races ... and a lot of great memories.
"One bad race doesn't really make up for all the great races I've had throughout the last four years."
In the wake of Friday's outcome, Bizzarri was uncertain whether she would follow through with plans to enter the USA Outdoor Championships later this month. The Mason, Ohio, native placed third in the 5,000 at the 2009 U.S. nationals. This year's meet will be held at Des Moines, Iowa, June 23-27. Bizzarri indicated she would first consult with UI women's cross-country head coach and track assistant Jeremy Rasmussen before making a decision.
"I'm not 100 percent sure what I'm going to be doing," she said. "I'm going to talk to my coach and figure that out."