Bizzarri explains race withdrawal
Saturday June 12, 2010
EUGENE, 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."
