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(article courtesy of fightingillini.com) 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois cross country and track and field standout Angela Bizzarri was nominated for the 2009 AAU Sullivan Award, which honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. The three-time national champion and nine-time All-American is one of 14 nominees for the award. Ballots can be cast at USA Today until April 1 when voting ends, and five finalists then will be invited to New York on April 14 for the announcement of the winner.

According to its website, the AAU Sullivan is known as the "Oscar" of sports awards and is older than The Heisman. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.

Notable past winners include: Wilma Rudolph (athletics), Mark Spitz (swimming), Greg Louganis (diving), Jackie Joyner-Kersey (athletics), Jim Abbott (baseball), Peyton Manning (football), Michelle Kwan (figure skating), Michael Phelps (swimming), Jessica Long (paralympian), Tim Tebow (football) and Shawn Johnson (gymnastics).

Bizzarri won the 2009 NCAA Cross Country national title by smashing her previous personal-best and finishing the 6K race with a school-record time of 19:46. She was named the National Cross Country Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and awarded the Honda Sports Award for Cross Country. The senior also earned the Midwest Region Athlete of the Year award after winning the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship individual title.

During the 2009 outdoor track and field season, Bizzarri took third in the 5,000m at the USA Championships and was the NCAA champion in the 5,000m. At the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, she won her first Big Ten Title by placing first in the 5,000m, and at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, she was Illinois’ top performer.

The Mason, Ohio native also was awarded the Dike Eddleman Award as the University of Illinois Female Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row in 2009 along with being named a second-team Academic All-American by ESPN the Magazine and an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

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