Katherine Ellis Class: Sophomore Hometown: Vancouver, Wash. High School: Columbia River High Height: 5-4 Birthdate: 07/13/1988

At USC: Katherine Ellis begins her second season of running cross country at USC. She made steady progress throughout the 2006 season and was one of USC's top five finishers in all six meets...Was USC's fifth-place finisher in the season opener on Sept. 2 at Fullerton with a time of 20.44...Placed 12th overall and fourth among Trojans runners at the Pepperdine Invitational on Sept. 23, running the 6K course in 24.11...Was 12th overall and USC's second-place finisher at the UCSD Triton Classic on Oct. 7 in San Diego with a time of 24:20.4...Had a best 5K time of 19:10 to finish 25th at the CS Fullerton Invitational in the final regular season meet of the season...Ran at the Pac-10 Championships hosted by Stanford and placed 68th with a 6K personal best of 24:01.63...Also ran for the track team, specializing in the 3000m steeplechase...She placed fifth at the USC-UCLA Dual Meet with a PR of 11:49 in the 3000m steeplechase...Has a season-best time of 10:51.47 in the 3000m run at the Trojan Relays on March 3.

High School: Ellis is a 2006 graduate of Columbia River High in Vancouver, Wash... Ran cross country and track and field at Columbia River High where her team won the 3A District 4 cross country championship twice...She was the 3A District 4 3200m champion four times and won the 1600m championship once...Her best cross country time as a senior was 18:53, her best 3200m time was 11:23 and best 1600m time was 5:20...Was a national merit scholar in high school.

Personal: Lists listening to music as a favorite pastime...Says Steve Prefontaine is her biggest sports hero because he was fast, had guts and a cool mustache...Chose USC for its great academics and the friendly people...Is an electrical engineering major at USC.