University of Cincinnati senior track star Angie Kist doesn't let anything get in the way of her running. Broken collarbone? A minor setback. Mononucleosis? No problem.

        When there's a race to be run, she wants to dominate.

        “If I'm going to go out there and compete, I want to win. I really don't like to lose,” Kist said.

        Most days she doesn't. In the outdoor track season, Kist three times has broken her own school record in the 1,500 meter run. She has won the event in five of six meets, most recently cruising to a 4:31.18 mark at Miami University's Southern Ohio Cup April 20.

        This winter she won the Conference USA Indoor Championship's 1,600-meter run in a school- and meet-record 4:50.01. She also set a new Bearcat mark in the 3,000 meters (9:57.61).

        Kist, who juggles part-time work with academics and athletics, also dazzled during cross country season. She was the top UC finisher at all eight meets last year and is the first woman in Conference USA history to earn all-conference cross country honors four consecutive years.

        “What separates Angie from so many people is that she's very competitive. She truly wants to win the race for the sake of winning the race,” coach Bill Schnier said. “She's exceptional in a variety of ways, but she has the rare talents of speed and endurance.”

        Four years ago, Kist hoped those talents would land her a soccer scholarship. A midfielder for Colerain High School, Kist waffled between track and soccer offers her senior year. She excelled at both sports for the Cardinals, and in basketball.

        “I went with running because at the time, it seemed like a lot of girls were tearing their ACLs in soccer. I thought I'd give that a try instead,” said Kist, who helped Colerain to a state cross country title in 1998.

        Midway through her freshman year of college, a head-on car collision left Kist with a broken collarbone and a dislocated shoulder. She had just finished her first cross country season — despite a lengthy bout with mono — and was forced to redshirt for the indoor season.

        Her bones mended and her spirits improved, but she desperately missed training.

        “Things like those really make you appreciate running. You realize how much you miss it,” Kist said “That was what I was worrying about when I was sitting in the car.”

        Kist, who has a 3.3 GPA and is majoring in food nutrition science, is aiming for a first-ever NCAA championships appearance. She's convinced she can shave more time off her 1,500-meter record.

        “I think I'm capable of running a lot faster,” she said.

        Coach Schnier had high hopes for Kist when she entered the Bearcats program. With Wyoming graduate David Payne, he didn't know what to expect.

        Payne, a sophomore walk-on, was among the 100 men competing for a spot on this year's track team. Including scholarship athletes, Schnier had room for only 58 men. Payne, who was ineligible until January, earned a position soon after.

        Three months later he won the 110-meter high hurdles (13.92) and 400-meter intermediate hurdles (52.13) at the Southern Ohio Cup.

        “Scholarship athletes with strong backgrounds make me excited about their potential, but sometimes they're a disppointment when they don't fulfill that,” Schnier said. “Ironically, when someone like David comes around and does way better than anticipated, it's such a surprise that it almost throws a coach's perspective out of kilter.”

        Only two years earlier, Payne thought he'd squandered all his track opportunities. A basketball and track standout at Wyoming High School, Payne was third in the 110-meter hurdles and sixth in the 400-meter dash at the state track meet as a junior.

        He qualified again as a senior, but never competed in the finals.

        Payne and several classmates were charged with underage consumption of alcohol when police disbanded a party the week before the state meet. His punishment kept him from competing.

        “I think what happened affected how colleges looked at me. I was so disappointed in myself,” Payne said. “I didn't even know if I wanted to go to college at all after that.”

        Friends and family convinced Payne to enroll at UC, and he chose to make academics his priority. But he wanted a second chance at track, too.

        Payne is majoring in psychology and plans on pursuing a masters degree in the same field while running for the Bearcats.

        “Even though I messed up once, I know I can still make something of myself,” Payne said.

Others

        Oklahoma Christian University's Crystalyn Starks Fillmore (Northwest) won the 100-meter hurdles (15.04) and 400-meter intermediate hurdles (1:06.38) in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship April 20.

        Michelle Reynolds (Wyoming), a Miami University freshman swimmer, won the 200 butterfly (2:03.10), was third in the 500 free (4:54.90) and placed sixth the 100 butterfly (56.90) at the Mid-American Conference Championships March 2. Reynolds was also a member of Miami's record setting, second-place 800 free relay team (7:30.20). She earned First Team, All MAC honors.

        Christina Estrict, a sophomore guard/forward on the Cincinnati State women's basketball team, has been named a second team Division I All-America by the National Junior College Athletic Association. Estrict averaged 22.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and one assist per game.

        The following Mount St. Joseph students have been selected into the Ohio Zeta Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society: Kori Strange (basketball), Robert Lehman (football), Steven Roby (football), Sara Wenedl (tennis), Nastasha Fuchs (cheerleading), Danielle Harris (cheerleading) and Megan Stojakovich (cheerleading). The distinction is based on the following criteria: junior or senior standing, a 3.4 GPA and a letter-winner in their sport.

        Xavier senior Rob Bakker was named to the Atlantic 10 all-conference men's tennis team for the second consecutive season. He also earned all-conference honors in soccer. XU freshman Neal Grusczysnki was named A-10 men's golf rookie of the week. He was the top rookie finisher at the A-10 championship, placing fourth with a 54-hole total of 4-under-par 212. He helped the Musketeers to a second-place finish.

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