OUA'S WOMEN OF INFLUENCE: York's Kathyn Pistor
HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will recognize the top female scholar-athletes from across the province at a luncheon on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont.
The event honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports, fields of study and community involvement. This year's guest speaker will be dual-sport national athlete, Olympic gold medalist and OUA alumnus Heather Moyse.
Name: Kathryn Pistor
School: York University Lions
Sport: Cross Country/Track and Field
Program: Kinesiology/Health Sciences (Graduate studies)
Year of study: 5
Kathryn Pistor has been a key contributor to the York University Lions in her four years as a member of the cross country and track and field teams.
She came to York with no intentions of joining a varsity team but was spotted in a practicum class by assistant coach Richard Parkinson and began running as a way to cope with the stress of having a family member with cancer. For someone with no formal training prior to joining the varsity team, she has come a long way in her four years with the program and has balanced being a team captain, a sport council member and a volunteer outside of school with the demands of running a graduate lab in physiology.
She was continually the Lions’ top finisher at cross country meets throughout the regular season and championships in her time with the program and last year was named the team’s most valuable runner. She is also a distance runner on the track and field team in the winter.
This season, she capped off her interuniversity career by winning the Bryce M. Taylor Award, which is the highest attainable award given by York Sport & Recreation and is presented to a graduating female student who has, throughout the undergraduate years, made outstanding contributions to sport at York through leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation.
Pistor graduated with her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and health science last year and this year began a master’s degree in the same field, with a focus on adipose tissue metabolism and endurance exercise training. As an undergraduate student she earned academic all-Canadian honours three times, a testament to her success in the classroom.
In addition to serving as a team captain and on the sport council, she has sat on various committees within the Sport & Recreation department as the varsity student representative, and this year she served as a student mentor as part of York’s academic excellence program.
Pistor is also a dedicated volunteer away from York and in the fall was awarded the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross Country Student-Athlete Community Service Award. This past September she organized the varsity track and field team to officiate an event held by the local Special Olympics group, and she is currently volunteering with the North York Jets of the Special Olympics. She also volunteers weekly at Toronto Grace Hospital in the palliative care unit and goes back to her high school in Tottenham to lead aerobics classes and assist with a leadership program for high school students.
Previously, she has also been an in-school mentor for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and served as an assistant coach with the high school basketball team in Tottenham.
What is your proudest academic achievement?
Graduating with highest honours from my undergraduate degree at York.
What is your proudest athletic achievement?
I am most proud of the progress I have made in running since joining the Lions. When I first came to York I had no formal training experience and never imagined that I could be part of the varsity program. Having been selected for the team and working my way to becoming a two time MVP for cross country has been a really great achievement.
What is your most memorable community related moment?
Last year our team officiated a Special Olympics Track and Field meet. It was great to see how willing my entire team was to give their time and support to these hard working and enthusiastic athletes. It was an incredible environment, everyone was so supportive of one another regardless of what team they were from and the athletes had such determination giving every event their all.
What woman has most influenced you, and why?
Without question my mom has been the most influential person in my life. She has shown me what it means to be a strong and independent woman, to have courage in the face of adversity, and to be a caring and compassionate person. She was truly incredible.
What are your future plans?
After completing my Masters degree in Kinesiology I hope to continue working in a health and wellness related field. I also plan to continue training and competing for as long as I can!
Join OUA as Heather speaks about her career on and off the field, and inspires a unique group of accomplished young women to continue to pursue excellence in sport and in life.
OUA recognizes the following sponsors for their support of this event; belairdirect, Centaur Products, Pioneer Energy, Wilson Sports Equipment of Canada and Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS).
