# Kendall Ellis

Kendall Ellis (born March 8, 1996) is an American sprinter. Ellis won gold in the 4x400 m relay and bronze in the Mixed 4x400 metres at the Tokyo Olympics. She competed in the 400 meters at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, winning gold medals as a part of prelim 4×400 m relays. As a junior, Ellis took gold in the 4×400 m relay and bronze in the 400 meters at the 2015 Pan American Junior Championships.
On June 10, 2018, she gained widespread distinction after her come from behind victory in the 1600 meter relay at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. She caught Purdue's Jaheya Mitchel at the finish line, giving University of Southern California the team event and its second women's track and field national title in program history. Ellis is a 3-time NCAA champion, 14-time NCAA Division I All-American, 7-time Pac-12 Conference champion and 5-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champion. Ellis set 2 NCAA indoor track and field records, a North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association indoor 400 meters record and United States collegiate records in 400 m and 4 x 400 m relay.

## Career

Ellis is 2015 USA U20 Outdoor Track and Field women's 400m Champion.
She competed at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships and won gold in the 4×400 m relay and bronze in the 400 meters. Ellis competed in the women's 400 metres and won gold in the 2017 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay (participating in the heats) at the 2017 World Championships.
In January 2019, she was announced to sign with New Balance and won her professional debut later that week at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
Ellis competed in the women's 400 metres and won gold in the 4x400 m relay (participating in the heats) at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
She placed 4th in the 400 m at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 50.10 secs.
Ellis won gold in the 4x400 m relay and bronze in the Mixed 4x400 metres (participating in the heats) at the Tokyo Olympics.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| International Championships ||||||
| 2021 | Tokyo Olympics | Tokyo Japan | 3rd | Mixed 4x400 metres | 3:11.39 |
| 2021 | Tokyo Olympics | Tokyo Japan | 1st | 4x400 m relay | 3:20.86 |
| 2019 | World Championships | Khalifa International Stadium | 1st | 4x400 m relay | 3:22.96 |
| 2019 | World Championships | Khalifa International Stadium | 14th | 400 metres | 51.58 |
| 2017 | World Championships | London Stadium | 1st | 4x400 m relay | 3:21.67 |
| 2017 | World Championships | London Stadium | 22nd | 400 metres | 52.18 |
| Pan Am U20 Championships ||||||
| 2015 | Pan American U20 Championships | Foote Field Edmonton Alberta | 3rd | 400 metres | 52.81 |
| 2015 | Pan American U20 Championships | Foote Field Edmonton Alberta | 1st | 4x400 m relay | 3:31.49 |
| USATF Championships ||||||
| 2021 | Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 4th | 400 metres | 50.10 |
| 2019 | Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake University | 2nd | 400 metres | 50.38 |
| 2018 | Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Drake University | 3rd | 400 metres | 50.37 |
| 2017 | Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Sacramento State University | 3rd | 400 metres | 50.00 |
| 2015 | Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships | University of Oregon | 1st | 400 metres | 52.32 |

## NCAA

Ellis is a 3-time NCAA champion, 14-time NCAA Division I All-American, 7-time Pac-12 Conference champion and 5-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champion. Ellis is the current North America, Central American and Caribbean record, American and Collegiate Record Holder for the indoor 400-meter dash with a time of 50.34 seconds.
Representing University of Southern California :
| School Year | MPSF Indoor Track | NCAA Indoor Track | Pac 12 Outdoor Track | NCAA Outdoor Track |
| 2018 Senior | 200 m – 23.36 – 1st | | 200 m – 22.74w (2.9) – 4th | |
| 2018 Senior | | 400 m – 50.34 – 1st | 400 m – 49.99 – 1st | 400 m – 50.19 – 2nd |
| 2018 Senior | | 4x400 m – 3:27.45 – 1st | 4x400 m – 3:30.45 – 1st | 4x400 3:27.06 1st |
| 2018 Senior | | | 4x100 m – 42.85 – 1st | 4x100 m – 43.11 – 3rd |
| 2017 Junior | 200 m – 23.09 – 1st | | 200 m – 22.80 (1.5) – 4th | |
| 2017 Junior | | 400 m – 51.07 – 2nd | 400 m – 50.66 – 1st | 400 m – 51.06 – 3rd |
| 2017 Junior | 4x400 m – 3:32.54 – 1st | | 4x400 m – 3:29.52 – 1st | 4x400 m – 3:23.35 – 2nd |
| 2016 Sophomore | 400 m – 53.11 – 1st | | 400 m – 53.56 – 2nd | 400 m – 52.59 – 11th |
| 2016 Sophomore | 400 m – 53.11 – 1st | | 200 m – 24.27 (−0.1) – 13th | |
| 2016 Sophomore | 400 m – 53.11 – 1st | 4x400 m – 3:29.98 – 4th | 4x400 3:34.14 1st | 4x400 3:40.61 8th |
| 2015 Freshman | 400 m – 53.19 – 3rd | | 400 m – 52.88 – 5th | 400 m – 54.45 – 24th |
| 2015 Freshman | 4x400 m – 3:33.58 – 1st | 4x400 3:29.63 3rd | 4x400 m – 3:32.12 – 1st | 4x400 m – 3:29.97 – 2nd |

## Early life and prep

Ellis grew up volunteering at the West Pembroke Pines Optimist Track Club.
Ellis works with children as a volunteer for Coaching Corps.
Ellis graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Florida) c/o 2014 as a 7-time FHSAA state champion with high school personal best times of 24.18 (200 meters) and 52.95 (400 meters).
Representing St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Florida) :
| Great Southwest Classic |||||||
| 2014 | 1st in the 400 m (53.49) |
| New Balance Outdoor Nationals |||||||
| 2011 | 15th in the 200 m (25.70) |
| Florida High School Athletic Association 4A state championship |||||||
| Year | Outdoor Track |
| 2014 | 1st in the 400 m (52.95) |
| 2014 | 1st in the 4x400 m (3:41.01) Krystal Sparling, Diamond Spaulding, Narinah Jean-Baptiste, Kendall Ellis |
| 2013 | 1st in the 400 m (54.96) |
| 2013 | 1st in the 4x400 m (3:45.01) Alon Lewis, Kendall Ellis, Krystal Sparling, Toria Levy |
| 2013 | 6th in the 200 m (24.45) |
| 2012 | 1st in the 400 m (53.22) |
| 2012 | 1st in the 4x400 m (3:47.67) Kendall Ellis, Kailn Houston, Toria Levy, Narinah Jean-Baptiste |
| 2012 | 5th in the 200 m (24.93) |
| 2011 | 1st in the 400 m (54.83) |
| 2011 | 2nd in the 4x400 m (3:51.67) Allison Richmond, Toria Levy, Amanda Hercules, Kendall Ellis |
| 2011 | 9th in the 200 m (24.88) |
Ellis was St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Florida) teammates / relay partner with IAAF World U 18 and U 20 medalist Khalifa St. Fort.
In 2014, Ellis placed 1st in the 400 m (52.95) and 1st in the 4x400 m (3:41.01) at Florida High School Athletic Association 4A state meet.
In 2013, Ellis placed 1st in the 400 m (54.96), 6th in the 200 m (24.45) and 1st in the 4x400 m (3:45.01) at Florida High School Athletic Association 4A state meet.
In 2012, Ellis placed 1st in the 400 m (53.22), 5th in the 200 m (24.93) and 1st in the 4x400 m (3:47.67) at Florida High School Athletic Association 4A state meet.
In 2011, Ellis placed 1st in the 400 m (54.83), 9th in the 200 m (24.88) and 1st in the 4x400 m (3:51.67) at Florida High School Athletic Association 4A state meet.