by Stuart WeirKendall Ellis is one of the top 400 meter runners in the U.S. She won gold and bronze in the 4x400m and the mixed relay. Stuart Weir caught up with Kendall and asked his proverbial thirteen questions (not 14, not 12, but 13).
Kendall Ellis, Gateshead 2021, photo by British Athletics
Kendall Ellis, Gateshead 2021, photo by British Athletics
Kendall Ellis
Kendall Ellis finished fourth in the US Olympic Trials in 2021 in 50.10, seven hundredths of a second behind Wadeline Jonathas (50.03), so missing out on selection for the individual 400m at the Tokyo Olympics. Ellis ran in the women’s 4 by 400 relay prelim and the mixed 4 by 400 final, leaving Tokyo with Olympic gold and bronze medals. In answers to 13 questions she shares her thoughts on 2021.
1. What is your assessment of your season?
I haven’t really sat down and reflected on the season. Coming back from Tokyo was such a whirlwind that I haven’t sat down and thought about it. Off the top of my head I want to say “disappointing” because ultimately I didn’t achieve the goal that I’d set myself of making the US team in the individual 400. But I think that would be selling myself a little short, basing the assessment of my entire season on one race. On the whole I think I had quite a solid season; I ran some of my fastest and most consistent times. So I think I’d call it a good start to the next four or five years with its back to back to back championships.
2. If you’d been from virtually any other country you would have made the Olympics with the time you ran
Yes, it just goes to show how deep the US pool of runners is. It is easy to get upset and think “man, any other country and I would make the team” but it also means that when you do make the US team there’s a real sense of pride. You really and truly know that you are one of the best if you do that. Bittersweet!
3. In the US trials 50.10, your third fastest ever but not enough? 7/100 second outside selection! Would’ve got you seventh in the Olympic final. Does that help?
No, not at all! The only thing I will say is that I gave it my all and ran the best I could. The third fastest time I ever ran so I can’t be mad at that. Looking back of the race, I can say I did my very best. I had nothing else I could have given. That provides some kind of comfort, knowing that I didn’t do anything wrong. Sometimes it’s just not your day, not your time.
Kendall Ellis, 2021 US Olympic Trials, photo by Kevin Morris
4. Why did you not to run an individual race again after the US trials?
I didn’t see the need to. I hadn’t made the team for Tokyo in the open 400 so I didn’t see much reason to run another open 400.
5. How was your Olympic experience?
I think the officials and the committee in Tokyo did the very best they could under the circumstances, considering all the covid restrictions and precautions and that it had been delayed by a year. So I give them full credit for handling the situation the best they could. They did a great job with that and managing everything. But as far as my experience goes it was a little disappointing because you make the Olympic team and you’re hoping you going to be able to experience the whole thing, living in the village, tour Tokyo and have a full experience. And I definitely didn’t get that. It was really disappointing and especially being a city like Tokyo, of all places, to be on lockdown. But it was a pretty positive experience considering the circumstances. As that was my first Olympics I don’t have anything to compare it to.
Race wise it was quite an experience with getting disqualified and then reinstated. It was super emotional and very overwhelming.
6. What were your expectations beforehand in terms of what you would run in the two relays (women’s and mixed 400)?
Yes I expected to be part of both.
7. In the Women’s 4 by 400 USA always seems to pick a completely different team from prelim to final?
I think that relay selection is always a touchy topic. In a country like US which has so much depth, there are 400m athletes who can run it. There are 200m athletes who can run it and 400 hurdlers which all brings in a pool of about 20 different athletes who are capable of running the 4 X 400 and all of them are capable of winning. It’s no longer “which team can get us the gold?” because almost any four women you pick can do it. Now it’s more who can get us the record, who can get us the fastest time? So relay selections are always up in the air and you never quite know until you see what people do in their individual events. You just gotta hope that you’re one of the people chosen.
8. Do you enjoy the mixed relay?
It is different! It switches things around and breaks a monotony of running all men or all women. I think it’s entertaining for the sport especially since they no longer specify the running order. Now that you can do whatever you want it’s interesting to see the differences. It’s a fun event to be part of. But for me, I want to get out of the relay space that I am perhaps being boxed into. And hoping not to have to do it again because I will be in the individual.
9. Plans for the winter?
I train in LA so we don’t really get a winter or fall. It’s really spring or summer all year round. I’ll just be training where I normally train.
10. Indoor season?
I never do a full indoor season. I’ll do the New Balance Grand Prix and I am hoping next year also to do the Millrose. It’s just to get some of the rust off but I probably won’t do more than two. If I don’t have to run the 400, it’s a good indoor season!
11. If you ran really fast in your indoor competitions might you consider the world indoors?
No I would not. I have no interest in doing major indoor competitions.
Kendall Ellis, 2021 US Olympic Trials, photo by Kevin Morris
12. Thoughts on a home Worlds?
It makes it really exciting because I will get to have my entire family come and friends come and see me compete, people who are not able to travel all the way to Tokyo, London or Doha. That will make it more special. And also that it is on the track where I have run numerous times and had great success on. I’m excited for that.
13. One memory of Oregon?
I know I said I am trying to get out of the relay box, but I am always going to be known for that final relay leg, so I’m going to have to say that one for sure.
See Kendall’s epic last leg in the 2018 NCAA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9XUf0FGCTs
