Twitter: @kWhitley22
Hometown: Geneva, Ill.
Resides: Colorado Springs, Colo.
College: University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (enrolled August 2011)
Birthdate: 10/12/1992 (20)
2011 USA Triathlon Rookie of the Year
2011, 2010 USA Triathlon Junior Athlete of the Year
2010 Youth Olympic Games Bronze Medalist
2012 Highlights: Placed second overall and was the top U.S. finisher at the March 3 Clermont ITU Pan American Cup.
Elite Triathlon Career: Selected as USA Triathlon’s 2011 Rookie of the Year • Enrolled at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in the inaugural class of the Elite Triathlon Academy in August 2011 • Placed fifth overall and was the No. 3 U.S. finisher at the Monroe ITU Pan American Cup, the second stop of the USA Triathlon Elite Race Series • Finished seventh overall and was the No. 4 American finisher at the 2011 Clermont ITU Pan American Cup, the opening event of the 2011 USA Triathlon Elite Race Series • Also finished seventh at the 2011 Mazatlan ITU Pan American Cup.
Amateur Triathlon Career: Named USA Triathlon Placed fifth at the sprint-distance 2011 ITU Junior Triathlon World Championships in Beijing • Winner of the 2011 USA Triathlon Junior Elite National Championship in Chula Vista, Calif., for her first career national title • Selected as USA Triathlon’s Junior Athlete of the Year in 2010 and earned USA Triathlon All-America honors • Won bronze medals at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in both the individual event and the mixed team relay • Logged a time of 1:03:13 in the individual event and made a charge on the bike and run to take third • Finished fourth at the 2010 ITU Junior Triathlon World Championships in Budapest with a time of 59:20 • Qualified for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games with a runner-up finish April 16 at the ITU Triathlon American Youth Olympic Games Qualifier in Monterrey, Mexico • Closed strong over the final 100 meters to grab second place in 59:59 — just 13 seconds off winner Adriana Barraza of Mexico • Also a member of the U.S. team that captured the Youth Olympic Games Qualifier relay title in Monterrey.
Athletic Background: Competed in triathlon from ages 10-13 and returned to the sport in 2010 • Cross country standout at Geneva High School • Three-time all-state selection in cross country and two-time honoree in track • Led Geneva to Illinois state cross country titles in 2007 and 2008 • Illinois state cross country runner-up in 2007 and 2008 • Member of Midwestern U.S. Girls Cross Country championship team in 2008.
