Track & Field

How do you adjust your diet as an athlete?

Balanced Athlete: Finding Healthy Alternatives for Cravings

I'm an athlete who definitely believes in balance, so I don't necessarily subscribe to super strict dieting or super restricted eating, but you know, give and take. I don't eat fried foods, I don't drink soda or juice, but you know, if there are times where I'm really craving a cookie, then it's okay to have the cookie. But I think for me it's about finding alternatives, so if I'm really craving a cheeseburger, making a turkey burger at home instead, or if I'm really craving ice cream, maybe making something with a frozen banana instead. So kind of just finding other healthier alternatives to satisfy that craving, but I'm an athlete who believes in balance overall.

I believe in balance when it comes to my diet and try to find healthier alternatives for cravings, but don't restrict myself from indulging occasionally.

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As an athlete, I prioritize balance in my diet rather than strict or restrictive eating. While I avoid fried foods, soda, and juice, I also believe in allowing myself some flexibility. If I have a strong craving for a cookie, I don't hesitate to enjoy one. However, I focus on finding healthier alternatives to satisfy cravings. For example, if I'm craving a cheeseburger, I might opt for a turkey burger at home instead. Similarly, if I have a hankering for ice cream, I might make a frozen banana treat instead. Overall, as an athlete, finding that balance is key for me in maintaining a healthy diet.

How did it feel to come from behind and win the 1600 meter relay at the NCAA Track and Field Championships?

Unforgettable NCAA Championship win after incredible comeback

This career moment is still a highlight of mine that still gets brought up to this day almost five years later. It felt incredible to win the way that we won, you know, in the moment and the perspective that I had from where I was in the track, I couldn't quite tell how far ahead the other team was. So I was thinking, oh, she's not that far ahead. I'm not fatigued. I'm not tired. I can catch her. But looking at it later and seeing just how far ahead she truly was, it's incredible to see. But it was amazing because it was my senior year. That's my last time wearing the USC uniform representing for Trojans. We had worked so hard to win a national title, and it finally all came together that year in literally the very last moments. So it's a moment I'll never forget. It meant a lot to me as an individual, but even more so that we got to win a national title as a team after working so hard for it.

Winning a national title with my team in my senior year was an incredible moment that I can never forget. It meant a lot to me to be able to achieve such a great goal after working so hard for it.

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Winning the 1600 meter relay at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, coming from behind, was an incredible moment that still stands out to me even after almost five years. It felt amazing to secure the victory in that manner. At the time, from my perspective on the track, I couldn't quite gauge how far ahead the other team was. I believed I could catch up since I wasn't fatigued or tired. However, when watching it back later, I realized just how significant the lead was and it was truly impressive. What made it even more special was that it happened during my senior year. It was my last time representing USC in the Trojan uniform. We had worked incredibly hard to win a national title, and everything finally clicked during that year's championship in the very last moments of the race. It's a memory that will stay with me forever. The victory meant a lot to me personally, but even more so because we achieved our goal as a team after putting in so much effort.

What do you do to stay focused during a race?

Mastering the Art of Laser Focus in Racing

Staying focused during a race for me looks like really queuing in on the cues and marks that my coach has set up for me during a race. So most of the time I break down my race into maybe four or five different parts and I like to focus on each part as they come up. So say for the blocks I have a keyword of push. That's what I'm focusing on. And then I'm getting to my 45 mark and just making sure I don't look at it as the big picture and kind of break it down into little chunks so that I am laser focused in on each piece as I do it.

Staying focused during a race for me looks like breaking it down into four or five different parts and focusing on each part as they come up. I have keywords for the blocks and make sure to break it down into little chunks so that I am laser focused in on each piece as I do it.

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To stay focused during a race, I rely on the cues and marks that my coach has established for me. I break down the race into smaller parts, usually around four or five sections, and concentrate on each part as it comes up. For example, during the blocks portion, my keyword is push, and I focus solely on that. As I reach the 45 mark, I avoid looking at the race as a whole and instead break it down into smaller chunks. This helps me maintain laser focus on each individual piece as I progress through the race.

What inspired you to pursue a career in sprinting?

Childhood Dream Ignites Sprinter's Journey to Professional Success

So I've been running since I was seven years old and I remember in elementary school when they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, I said I wanted to be a track star. And I didn't know what a professional track and field athlete was or that it could be your career. I just knew that I wanted to be a track star. So I think running throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school, it was something that kind of sat in the back of my mind, but wasn't sure how it would happen or how exactly to pursue it. But I got a scholarship to USC and I made my first senior world team in 2017. And I think that really let me know that I am talented and I'm good enough to run professionally, so that's what I'm going to pursue. And from then on, graduated 2018 and became a professional athlete. So I think for me it was just recognizing my talent and being like, I want to do something with this because I'm good enough and I want to see just how far it can take me.

I realized I wanted to pursue athletics as a career when I got a scholarship to USC and made my first senior world team in 2017.

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Running has been a part of my life since I was seven years old. From a young age, I had the dream of becoming a track star, not fully understanding what it meant to pursue a career as a professional track and field athlete. As I continued running throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school, that dream stayed with me, although I wasn't exactly sure how to make it happen. However, receiving a scholarship to USC and making my first senior world team in 2017 solidified my belief in my talent and capability to run professionally. After graduating in 2018, I made the decision to pursue a career as a professional athlete. Recognizing my talent and knowing that I had the potential to achieve great things fueled my determination to see how far running could take me.

What was going through your head at the 2018 NCAA championships just before you received the baton?

Winning the NCAA Championships: One Thought in Mind

I think right before I got the baton of the 2018 NCAA Championships, the only thing going through my mind was, do not drop it. As long as I get the baton in my hand and there are no disqualification mishaps or baton dropping mishaps, we are going to win this race. No matter what place we got the baton in, I knew as long as it made it to my hand, we were gonna be national champions at the end of it.

I was focused on not dropping the baton and making sure it made it to my hand so that we could win the race and become national champions.

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Just before I received the baton at the 2018 NCAA Championships, my only thought was to not drop it. Getting a solid handoff without any disqualification or dropping mishaps was crucial. Regardless of the position we were in when I received the baton, I had a strong belief that as long as it made it into my hand, we would become national champions by the end of the race.

Hi Kendall! Tell people about your background, expertise, and how you can help.

Kendall Ellis: From Track and Field Champion to YouTube Enthusiast

Hi, my name is Kendall Ellis and I'm a professional track and field athlete sponsored by New Balance and also representing Team USA. I began running when I was 7 years old. I'm originally from South Florida. I'm a very proud South Floridian. I graduated from the University of Southern California, Phyton, with my degree in business administration. I also have my master's in it. I was part of the 2017, 2019, and 2022 world teams where I came home with two gold medals and I was a part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team where I came home with a gold and bronze medal. I enjoy baking, reading, and I watch way too much YouTube.

I'm Kendall Ellis, a professional track and field athlete sponsored by New Balance and Team USA. I graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration and a masters in IT. I was part of World Championship teams in 2017, 2018 and 2022, where I won two gold medals, and also part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team, where I came home with a gold and bronze medal. I enjoy baking, reading and watching YouTube.

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Hi! I'm Kendall Ellis, a professional track and field athlete sponsored by New Balance and representing Team USA. I have been running since the age of 7 and am incredibly proud to come from South Florida. I graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in business administration and also hold a master's degree. Throughout my career, I have been part of the 2017, 2019, and 2022 world teams, earning two gold medals. I was also a member of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team, where I won a gold and bronze medal. In addition to my athletic pursuits, I enjoy baking, reading, and watching an excessive amount of YouTube.

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Kendall Ellis is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 400m. She won the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships 400m title in 2017 and the USATF Outdoor Championships in 2018. She won a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships and gold in the 4x400m relay at the 2019 Pan American Games. Off the track, Ellis is an advocate for social justice and a USC graduate with a degree in sociology.