KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee track legend, national champion and seven-time All-American Kathy Bryant passed away at the age of 55.

She was a four-time All-American in track and three-time All-American in cross country.

Bryant was a member of the 1981 Tennessee women's track and field team that won the AIAW Outdoor National Championship, which was the University of Tennessee's first national championship in women's athletics. She earned All-America honors in the 5,000 meters, finishing sixth at the national championships with a time of 16:31.59 to score UT's final point of the national meet. At the 1981 SEC Outdoor Championships, Bryant won the 3,000 meters in 9:32.79 and also took home the conference title in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:34.83.

Bryant won the 5,000 meters at the 1982 NCAA Outdoor National Championships, clocking in at 16:10.41. She also won the 1982 SEC title in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:59.40. Bryant earned All-America honors at the 1982 AIAW Indoor National Championships, finishing second in both the two-mile (9:59.00) and three-mile (15:18.83) races.

Her indoor three-mile time of 15:18.83 from the national championship meet and her outdoor 5,000-meter time of 15:37.73 from the 1982 season still stand as Tennessee program records.

Bryant was a three-time top-10 finisher at the national cross country championships. She led the Tennessee women to a sixth-place showing at the 1980 AIAW National Championships, finishing eighth individually with a time of 17:16 to become Tennessee's first freshman to earn cross country All-American honors. Bryant took ninth place at the 1981 NCAA National Championships, clocking a 16:41. She placed seventh (17:14) and the Lady Vols took 12th at the 1982 NCAA National Championships.

The Columbus, Ohio, native graduated from Watterson High School. She was considered the top prep distance runner coming out of high school. Bryant was also the runner-up in the two-mile at the 1979 AAU Junior Olympic nationals and the 1980 Ohio state champion in the mile.

The visitation is on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 4-8 p.m. at Maeder-Quint Tiberi Funeral Home at 1068 S. High Street in Columbus, Ohio. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at 11 a.m. at Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, located on the ground of St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St.Vincent DePaul Society. To sign the on-line register book please visit, www.MaederQuintTiberi.com.