US News
Nike Athlete of the Week

AOW # 8


Tim Nelson
Redding CA senior
Angela Bizzari
Cincinnati OH freshman

Tim Nelson broke course records twice this year, only to have Oregon's Lauren Jespersen run just a bit faster (Yreka and Stanford). They are the only two races Nelson has lost this year. After Jespersen started staying north of the border, Nelson rolled to big wins at Clovis and Mt. SAC. The latter was a shocker even to Tim as his 14:33 was the third fastest recorded in the 55 years of Mt. SAC. The course has been shortened and made easier with improvements over the years, but that was still a significant breakthrough for Nelson.

Jespersen's third California invasion of the season will occur in the Foot Locker West regional December 7. That is at Mt. SAC, so Nelson may be ready this time.

Nelson's DyeStat Elite performances
14:54 5k - 2 @ Stanford Div 1 CA 9/28/2002
15:09 5k - 1 @ Clovis Inv CA 10/12/2002
15:37 5k - 2 @ Premier West Yreka CA 9/7/2002
14:33 2.95m - 1 @ Mt. SAC race 48 CA 10/26/2002
15:24 3.0m - 1 @ Nevada Union CA 9/21/2002

The story of Angela Bizzari's season is told in a series of encounters with Cincinnati rival Carolyn Rauen. The week before Rauen won the Midwest Meet of Champions at Hilliard OH, she lost to freshman Bizzari in a local meet in Cincinnati. Reporters wanted to know if Rauen was just off or Bizzari was really good. "She's really good," Rauen said.

Bizzari and Rauen traded victories in two more encounters and then went to Columbus as two of the favorites in Division 1 (biggest schools) of the Ohio state meet. Also on hand were two solid senior veterans, Michelle Sikes and Emily King.

In the end, Bizzari confirmed she is more than just precocious by taking down all the veterans and winning the title by 14 seconds over Rauen, with Sikes and King 8 and 18 seconds further back. Even more impressive than the win, was the freshman's poise. In the second mile, Sikes surged and tried to break Bizzari (photo above by OGXC, Ohio Girls XC and Track Online). But Bizzari stayed calm and bided her time until she was ready to make her winning move.

Bizzari will bring national competition experience to Foot Locker this season. In the USATF Junior Olympics in Omaha last July, Bizzari was second in the Youth girls 3000 meters (10:05.08) and third in the 1500 (4:42.91).

Bizzari's DyeStat Elite performances
17:46 5k - 2 @ District Cinci OH 10/12/2002
17:47 5k - 1 @ State Div 1 OH 10/26/2002
18:19 5k - 1 @ Lakota Classic OH 8/31/2002

Honorable Mention
Alphabetical order - Includes meets through October 30
BOYS
GIRLS
  • Lawrence North sr Nef Araia 14:54 5k on wet course to remain undefeated this year, beating Christian Wagner by 21 seconds and taking 11 seconds off the course record held for 20 years by former Indiana U. star Scott Williams.
  • Air Academy CO sr Ian Burrell 15:19 5k for course record win over Brent Vaughn in state 5A championship.
  • St. Xavier Louisville KY sr Bobby Curtis 14:50 5k in soft mud, only 2 seconds behind the fastest US 5k this year, which was run on a hard, fast surface by Nef Araia at Hilliard OH September 7.
  • Maclay Tallahassee jr Ryan Deak 14:56 3m winning the Panhandle Championships.
  • Mt. Tabor NC sr Matt Debole 15:18 5k winning his regional.
  • Conard CT jr Ahmed Haji 16:01 for fastest time of the six classes of state Class championships.
  • Campbell County WY sr Andrew Jones 15:54 5k to win state 5A and stay undefeated this season.
  • Hudson sr Wesley Smith 15:15 5k winning the Ohio state championship on a wet, slippery course.
  • Stevens Point sr Chris Solinsky 15:27 5k, winning by 90 seconds for course record on wet, hilly Waupaca sectional course.
  • Grady Sullivan, Blue Valley North KS, 15:24 5k winning at Emporia in state's most competitive regional.
  • Greely jr Ben True 16:06 5k continues to be Maine's best runner, winning Western Maine title by more than a minute in course record time in rain, wind, and mud.
  • Northport NY soph Kevin Tschirhart 16:09 5k at super-tough Sunken Meadows, beating Brian Dalpiaz by 4 seconds.
  • Grant OR sr Alec Wall 15:21 5k in the Portland District, breaking Galen Rupp's course record set earlier this season. Grant teammate Joaquin Chapa was just 1 second behind.
  • Shawnee Mission South KS jr Connie Abbott 11:10 2m winning at Emporia in state's most competitive regional.
  • Natrona County WY soph Sarah Balfour 18:22 5k winning Wyoming state meet, just 2 seconds off Alicia Craig's record, and still unbeaten this season.
  • Mason Cincinnati OH fr Angela Bizzari 17:47 5k winning the Ohio Div 1 championship over veterans Carolyn Rauen 18:01 and Michelle Sikes 18:09.
  • Saratoga NY fr Nicole Blood 17:04 5k, 10 seconds faster than last year in the Suburban Council meet and the fastest 5k in the nation this year, despite 43 degrees temp and heavy rain.
  • Laguna Creek CA jr Rachel Bryan 17:08 winning the big Mt. SAC Invitational.
  • South Eugene soph Erin Gray 18:14 5k winning the Midwestern League meet in course record time by 42 seconds.
  • Carmel IN jr Katie Harrington 14:09 4k winning Indiana Semi-State meet.
  • Smoky Hill CO sr Megan Kaltenbach 18:21.3 5k won her fourth straight state championship (first four-peat ever in class 5A) in the fastest time ever.
  • Smoky Hill CO soph Katelyn Kaltenbach 18:21.5 5k finishing a split second behind older sister Megan for the second straight week.
  • Jenks OK sr Brianna McLeod 11:20 for course record win in 5A regional; McLeod back in top form after a siege of tendonitis.
  • Killingly CT sr Meghan Owen 15:39 4k for fastest time of the six classes of state Class championships.
  • Red Lion PA jr Kate Papenberg 19:04 5k district win on very slow, muddy Hershey Park course.
  • Hatboro-Horsham sr Janine Ricci 18:16 5k in district, continuing a breakthrough season.

 

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