SAN DIEGO -- A star sprinter from San Diego State University has been jailed in the stabbing death of her married boyfriend, who died early Wednesday.

Latoyonda Promise Mose, 23, who graduated in May, could face murder charges for the June 15 assault on Allen Hardy, prosecutor Lucille Weismantel said.

Prosecutors said Mose plunged a kitchen knife into Hardy's chest in a dispute over their relationship. Hardy, 27, was taken to Scripps-Mercy Hospital, where he died.

Defense lawyer Cynthia Bolden said Mose had been deceived by Hardy into believing he was single.

Hardy met Mose about 2½ years ago at an electronics store where she worked. The two shared an apartment.

"She had no intention of killing him," Boldon said. "She was, for all intents and purposes, a battered woman."

Mose was being held in lieu of $1 million bail. She originally faced attempted murder charges, but prosecutors said Wednesday they likely would pursue murder charges following a police investigation.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 22.

In four years on the San Diego State track team, Mose set the school indoor 60-meter and 400-meter records and was named Mountain West Conference Track Athlete of the Week in May 2001.

Widely known as Promise, Mose was included in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" feature and, while attending John F. Kennedy High in Richmond, Va., was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the indoor 500-meter race, according to San Diego State.