Kendall Ellis

Kendall Ellis (born March 8, 1996) is an American sprinter.^[1] Ellis won gold in the 4 × 400 m relay and bronze in the Mixed 4 × 400 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.^[2]

Kendall Ellis

Ellis in 2018
Personal information
Born	(1996-03-08) March 8, 1996 (age 29) Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event	400 metres
College team	USC Trojans
Club	New Balance
Turned pro	2018
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	400 m: 49.46 (Eugene, OR 2024)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games 2020 Tokyo 4 × 400 m relay 2020 Tokyo 4 × 400 m mixed World Championships 2017 London 4 × 400 m relay 2019 Doha 4 × 400 m relay World Athletics Relays 2024 Nassau 4 × 400 m relay Pan American U20 Championships 2015 Edmonton 4 × 400 m relay 2015 Edmonton 400 m

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.^[3] 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 × 400 m relay.

Career

Ellis is 2015 USA U20 Outdoor Track and Field women's 400 m 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6][7]

Ellis competed in the women's 400 metres and won gold in the 4 × 400 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.^[8]

Ellis won gold in the 4 × 400 m relay and bronze in the Mixed 4 × 400 metres (participating in the heats) at the Tokyo Olympics.^[9][10]

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.^[11]

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
		400 m – 50.34 – 1st	400 m – 49.99 – 1st	400 m – 50.19 – 2nd
		4 × 400 m – 3:27.45 – 1st	4 × 400 m – 3:30.45 – 1st	4 × 400 3:27.06 1st
			4 × 100 m – 42.85 – 1st	4 × 100 m – 43.11 – 3rd
2017 Junior	200 m – 23.09 – 1st		200 m – 22.80 (1.5) – 4th
		400 m – 51.07 – 2nd	400 m – 50.66 – 1st	400 m – 51.06 – 3rd
	4 × 400 m – 3:32.54 – 1st		4 × 400 m – 3:29.52 – 1st	4 × 400 m – 3:23.35 – 2nd
2016 Sophomore	400 m – 53.11 – 1st		400 m – 53.56 – 2nd	400 m – 52.59 – 11th
			200 m – 24.27 (−0.1) – 13th
		4 × 400 m – 3:29.98 – 4th	4 × 400 3:34.14 1st	4 × 400 3:40.61 8th
2015 Freshman	400 m – 53.19 – 3rd		400 m – 52.88 – 5th	400 m – 54.45 – 24th
	4 × 400 m – 3:33.58 – 1st	4 × 400 3:29.63 3rd	4 × 400 m – 3:32.12 – 1st	4 × 400 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)
	1st in the 4 × 400 m (3:41.01) Krystal Sparling, Diamond Spaulding, Narinah Jean-Baptiste, Kendall Ellis
2013	1st in the 400 m (54.96)
	1st in the 4 × 400 m (3:45.01) Alon Lewis, Kendall Ellis, Krystal Sparling, Toria Levy
	6th in the 200 m (24.45)
2012	1st in the 400 m (53.22)
	1st in the 4 × 400 m (3:47.67) Kendall Ellis, Kailn Houston, Toria Levy, Narinah Jean-Baptiste
	5th in the 200 m (24.93)
2011	1st in the 400 m (54.83)
	2nd in the 4 × 400 m (3:51.67) Allison Richmond, Toria Levy, Amanda Hercules, Kendall Ellis
	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 4 × 400 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 4 × 400 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 4 × 400 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 4 × 400 m (3:51.67) at Florida High School Athletic Association 4A state meet.

^[12]

Statistics

Circuit performances

Grand Slam Track results[13]
Slam	Race group	Event	Pl.	Time	Prize money
2025 Miami Slam	Long sprints	400 m	8th	52.51	US$10,000
		200 m	8th	23.03

International championships

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
2021	Tokyo Olympics	Tokyo Japan	3rd	Mixed 4 × 400 metres	3:11.39
			1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:20.86
2019	World Championships	Khalifa International Stadium	1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:22.96
			14th	400 metres	51.58
2017	World Championships	London Stadium	1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:21.67[14]
			22nd	400 metres	52.18[15]
Pan Am U20 Championships
2015	Pan American U20 Championships[16]	Foote Field Edmonton Alberta	3rd	400 metres	52.81
			1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:31.49

National championships

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
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[17]
2017	Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Sacramento State University	3rd	400 metres	50.00[18]
2015	Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships	University of Oregon	1st	400 metres	52.32[19]