Katie DeRusso 2006-07 Cross Country Roster

AS A JUNIOR: Was a consistent varsity contributor for the Irish cross country team, running in six meets … took 20th in the National Catholic Championship, covering 5,000 meters in 18:51 … ran 116th at the Notre Dame Invitational two weeks later, finishing in 18:40 … in her season[apos]s 6,000-meter debut, ran 22:49 for 165th at the Pre-National Meet … had an outstanding BIG EAST race, helping the women take the team title by running 21:58 for 16th overall … placed 90th at the Great Lakes Regional, helping the Irish earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship …at the national meet in Terre Haute, ran 23:06 for 240th as the team took seventh … qualified for the indoor BIG EAST mile at the Notre Dame Opener, running 5:07.64 … bettered that mark at the Meyo Invitational with a time of 5:04.53 … placed seventh in a point-scoring effort at the BIG EAST Indoor Championship, establishing a career best in the mile in 4:56.02 … also contributed to the Irish team title in the 4×800-meter relay, finishing second with teammates Brianne Schmidt, Jacqueline Carter and Ramsey Kavan (school-record 8:58.67) … lowered her personal-best mile mark at the Alex Wilson Invitational, running 4:55.93 … specialized in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the outdoor season, eventually earning a trip to the NCAA Mideast Regional … top effort of the season came at the Stanford Invitational, where she finished second in her section of the steeplechase in 10:47.05 … the mark stands second all-time in Notre Dame history to her own career best time set a year ago … set a career best in the 1,500 meters at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, running 4:40.52 … took 10th in the steeplechase at the outdoor BIG EAST meet in 11:05.16 … finished 23rd at the NCAA Mideast Regional in the steeplechase … owns five of the top six steeplechase times in school history heading into the 2006-07 season.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Improved to become one of Notre Dame[apos]s regular distance contributors … ran at every one of the Irish cross country meets … placed eighth at the Valparaiso Invitational and 11th at the National Catholic Championship … competed in the open race at the Notre Dame Invitational and ran 18:29 over 5,000 meters for ninth place … was among Notre Dame[apos]s varsity competitors for all three post-season meets … finished 46th at the BIG EAST meet in 22:39 … stepped up in a big way at the Great Lakes Regional, running 21:28 to finish 50th and help the team to a second-place finish … participated in her first NCAA Championship … focused on the mile during the indoor track season … ran her season-best time in the event at the Notre Dame Invitational (5:01.73) … competed in two events at the BIG EAST Indoor Championship … finished fourth in the 4×800 meter relay with Brianne Schmidt, Rachel Heneghan, and Jacqueline Carter (9:07.30) … scored team points with an eighth-place, 5:03.45 effort in the mile … set a (then) career best in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the outdoor Stanford Invitational, finishing third in her section with a time of 10:51.41 … competed at the prestigious Mount SAC Relays, taking 21st in the steeplechase … competed in two events at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championship, this time running the 4×800 meter relay and 3,000 meter steeplechase … took eighth in the relay in 9:15.86 with Carter, Schmidt and Kerry Meagher and finished ninth in the steeplechase while running 10:55.06 … ran the steeplechase at the Georgia Tech Invitational, finishing fourth in 10:56.30 … set a 10-second career best at the NCAA Mideast Regional with a 10:41.49 effort, the top mark in school history.

AS A FRESHMAN: Developed well during her rookie season and provided depth to the Irish distance group … competed in three races during her freshman season in cross country … finished 26th in the National Catholic Championship, 41st in the Notre Dame Invitational Gold Division race and 78th in the Pre-National Meet open race … ran both the mile and 1,000 meters during the 2004 indoor track season … finished second in the 1,000 meters at the Windsor Team Challenge and third at the Blue and Gold Invitational … ran on the 4×800-meter relay team at the BIG EAST indoor meet, finishing fourth along with teammates Lauren King, Megan Johnson and Kerry Meagher … qualified for the BIG EAST outdoor meet in the steeplechase by running 11:10.54 to finish second at the Notre Dame Spring Opener … also finished second in the steeplechase at the Tom Botts Invitational … eventually finished 17th in the steeplechase at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championship … competed as part of the 4×800-meter relay team at the conference outdoor meet, finishing eighth.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Earned five letters in both cross country and outdoor track and field during indoor season … Fairport High Female Athlete of the Year in 2003 … led cross country team to four Monroe County League conference titles in five years and four consecutive indoor crowns … five-time all-state and first-team Section V honoree in cross country … named New York State Freshman Runner of the Year in 1999 … earned Monroe Country all-league honors on 23 occasions in both cross country and track … captured eight Section V championships in individual or relay events during her prep career, including three during the 2002-03 school year … member of 4×800 meter relay team at Fairport that established three school records (indoor and outdoor) … in final scholastic season in cross country, finished sixth at NYSPHSA Class A championship and seventh at NYS Federation race … also placed 22nd at FootLocker Northeast Cross Country Regional … led team to second-place finish at 2002 NYSPHA state championship after winning Section V crown … was undefeated in the 3,000 meters in all Section V races during her senior year … finished third in 3,000 meters at NYS Federation outdoor meet … as a freshman in high school placed sixth at the National Junior Olympics Youth Race … captained cross country and track teams during her senior year … member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … received JP Morgan National Merit Scholarship … National Merit Scholarship recipient and AP Scholar … played violin for the Fairport High School orchestra … born June 6, 1985 in Rochester, N.Y. … daughter of Cindy and Paul DeRusso … older of two children … father, Paul is a 1976 Notre Dame graduate … enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters as an English major.