Kelly Strong Hometown: Tualatin, Ore. Position: Assistant Coach, Distances Experience: 6th year

Five-time collegiate All-American Kelly Strong, formerly Kelly MacDonald, enters her sixth season as an assistant coach at UW. Strong is heavily involved in day-to-day operations and recruiting, and works directly with UW's women's distance runners.

Strong's first five years at Washington have been some of the most outstanding in the history of UW's women's distance program.

The fall of 2007 saw the Washington women's cross country team turn in what could easily be termed the best season in program history. The women placed eighth at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., a new program high.

Strong was instrumental in the development of junior Anita Campbell and sophomore Katie Follett, who became UW's first pair of cross country All-Americans in one season in team history, and the first since 2001. Follett and Campbell finished in identical times at NCAA's to place 19th and 20th, respectively.

The women accomplished all this despite the absence of senior Amy Lia, one of the most decorated distance runners in UW history, who was recovering from injury. Lia won the 2006 NCAA Championship at 1,500 meters, and was ninth at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Her All-America honor was her second-straight in the event.

All told, eight All-America awards have been claimed by UW women under Strong's watch in her first five years , and the cross country program has reached NCAA's in four of the past six years under the combined tutelage of Strong and head coach Gret Metcalf. Since 2003, the women have earned one All-American award at 800-meters, three at 1500 meters including Lia's title, and two more in the mile.

Much of that success has been due to Strong's prowess as a recruiter. Her first group of women's distance signees -- including Lia -- was ranked sixth in the nation by Track and Field News, while her 2005-06 class included Pac-10 Cross Country Newcomer of the Year Tori Tyler.

While coaching at UW, Strong continues to train and compete at the sport's highest level.

A 2002 graduate of Arizona State, Strong is the American record-holder in the 2,000-meter steeplechase (6:25.98), ranks seventh in U.S. history in the 3,000-meter steeple (9:47.68), and placed fifth in the event at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Strong earned five All-America honors and three Pac-10 titles during her collegiate career at ASU, where she set five school records.

A native of Tualatin, Ore., Strong took third in the steeplechase and 5,000 meters at the 2001 NCAA Championships, and was third again in the steeplechase final at the U.S. Senior National Championships on the same track two weeks later. Last year at the UW Outdoor Preview, Strong set the American record in the 2000m steeplechase with a time of 6:25.98.

She was recognized in 2002 with ASU's Pac-10 Medal, and was ASU's Athlete of the Year in 2001-02. Strong and her husband, former ASU All-American Brandon Strong, were married in 2004, and currently reside in Kirkland.