Christie Otte (2015) - Hall of Fame - Montana State University Athletics

Christie Otte

Induction:
2015

In a sense Christy Otte was a trailblazer. That's how it appeared when she ran, always finishing strong and creating a path that others could only follow, and that's how it appears in hindsight. In the truest sense she was Montana State's first great women's sprint star."

"Christy was really our first great female sprinter," says long-time Bobcat track and field coach Dale Kennedy, "the first that could sprint on a national level. Other kids came long after that, but certainly she was the first one and she went the highest, earned All-America honors. We haven't had another female sprinter earn All-America honors in the sprints since Christy."

Kennedy says Otte's strong finishes weren't an illusion. "Her best gift was her speed endurance," Kennedy said, "the ability to carry her speed longer through a race."

Otte came to MSU as a star in the short sprints, the 100 and 200, but it was that endurance that gave her great versatility and boosted her onto the national scene. She won 10 Big Sky Championships - three in the 200 meters, six in the 400 meters, and one in a relay - and was one of the most prolific point-scorers in Big Sky history. She remains in the top 20 in career points both indoors and outdoors.

But it was Otte's dominance that really set her apart. She captured four Big Sky Championship Meet Outstanding Track Performer Awards - indoors in 1996, indoors and outdoors in 1997, and indoors in 1998.

Later in her career, Kennedy helped Otte to make the transition up a distance to the 800 meters, and it proved to be an excellent move. Otte advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 400 meters in 1998, and finished eighth to capture All-America honors.

"She was not only one of the best sprinters at Montana State but was one of the best ever at 200 meters and 400 meters in the Big Sky Conference," Kennedy said. She was a kid that really lit it up."