By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Five years ago, Andrea Kremer sat across from Miami University women's cross country coach Dr. Rich Ceronie and asked him if she might become an All-American one day.

He said yes - and he didn't know why. "It was something intangible. Sometimes you meet someone and you know they're going to be successful at their chosen endeavor," Ceronie said. "When she left my office, I said, 'You know, I liked her spirit.' She just loves to compete."

Before she graduates this spring, Kremer will go down as one of the most decorated athletes in RedHawk history. The cross country and track star is Miami's only female three-time All-American, and by the school year's end, Kremer could be a five-time honoree.

But when she first walked into Ceronie's office, the Indiana native was bent on becoming a Division I pitcher instead.

"I grew up playing softball, but I kept getting better and better at running," said Kremer, who once pitched 23 innings in a city championship semifinal game. "I didn't decide what I was going to do until the week I signed. That's when I decided I had more potential running."

Ceronie's assistant scouted Kremer when she was a Bishop Chatard senior, but Kremer said she "got nervous" and drank too much water before the semi-state cross country meet. She placed fourth overall anyway but concluded the season with a disappointing 38th place at the state meet.

Ceronie, who also coaches women's track and field at Miami, put Kremer on a summer exercise regimen and was impressed with her results. Kremer was the team's top finisher in every cross country meet she ran as a freshman.

"She worked so hard over the summer, it was like a different person came (to Miami). What it might take most kids 24 months to do, she did in eight months," Ceronie said.

Since then, Kremer, a two-time Track & Field All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, has dominated fall and spring seasons. This fall she has won four meets - including the MAC championship - and established a school-record time (17:12 in the Oct. 18 Illini Challenge).

"We know Andrea's going to do well because she's put in all the work," said senior Kristin Wrede, who has finished second to Kremer in every meet this season. "It's hard to catch her on a bad day."

Kremer, who won her sixth MAC Runner of the Week honor, maintains a 3.73 GPA in mathematics and plans to get her master's in economics at Miami next fall. The two-time Academic All-American won't have eligibility after the school year, so everything counts now, she said.

She and the RedHawks compete in the NCAA Regional Qualifier Nov. 15, and the top five teams and top five individuals advance to the NCAA Championship.

Kremer doesn't regret choosing running over softball, yet she imagines she still has room for improvement when it comes to cross country.

"I don't think I'm the most talented person on the team," Kremer said. "I just think I do a lot of little things that start adding up."

Others

• Xavier sophomore forward Angie Scarlato (Mercy) was named Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week after scoring three goals and an assist in two Musketeer wins last week.

• University of Scranton's Kim McManus (Mount Notre Dame) was named the Freedom Conference Player of the Week. She hit .329 with 39 kills, 21 service aces, 20 digs and five blocks in the Royals' four volleyball wins last week.

• Four Xavier women's soccer players were named to Atlantic 10 all-conference teams. Lauren Giesting (McAuley), Tracy Kennedy and Lindsay Yonadi were named to the second team. Amber Silvis (Western Brown) was named to the all-rookie team.

• Three UC women's soccer players earned All-Conference USA honors for 2003. Seniors Tasha Wagner (Middletown) and Kristina Wilson (Glen Este) were named to the second team. Freshman Becky Imhoff (McNicholas) made the all-freshman team.

• UC men's soccer players Anders Cedergren, Tim Brown and John Adams were named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV team.

• Thomas More sophomore volleyball player Laura Wiegele (Mercy) became the school leader for digs in a single season against Ripon (Wis.) College. She has 918, surpassing the mark of 833. Freshman Jackie Gentile (Seton) moved into fifth place on the school's single-season assists list last week. She has 1,400 this season.

• Thomas More senior Natalie Gardner (Holy Cross) made the Academic All-District IV women's soccer first team.

• Mount St. Joseph senior cross country runner Katie Nickoli finished 12th in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Nov. 1 to claim all-conference honors.

• Mount St. Joseph volleyball player Tammi Toney (Harrison) was named to the all-tournament team at the Trinity University Fall Classic, and was named HCAC Player of the Week.

• NKU women's soccer player Kendra Zinser (Mercy) has been selected to the 2003 Academic All-District IV second team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

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E-mail srussell@enquirer.com