Rachel Velarde Class: Sophomore Hometown: Albuquerque, NM High School: Eldorado H.S. Height: 5-1

AS A FRESHMAN: Was impressive in Notre Dame debut, finishing fifth in the National Catholic Championships, with a time of 18:11, helping the Irish take home the team title ... finished 54th at the Notre Dame Invitational, completing the circuit in 17:34 ... placed 115th in the Pre-NCAA Meet at Terre Haute, Ind. (22:03) ... posted a 21:36 time to finish 34th at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championships ... ran a time of 22:06 to finish 34th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, helping the Irish qualify for the NCAA Championships with a fourth place finish ... posted a time of 21:42 at her first NCAA Championship, good for 155th place ... made only track and field appearance of the season at the Notre Dame Indoor Opener, finishing third in the mile with a time of 5:06.85.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Seven-time letterwinner in cross country and track at Eldorado ... was the cross country city and district champion as a senior ... earned cross country all-district honors all four years and all-city and all-state honors as a junior and senior ... won back-to-back state cross country team titles ... regional and state track champion as a junior and senior ... earned track all-district and all-state honors as a freshman, junior and senior ... holds the school record in the 1600 meters (5:06), 3200 meters (11:12) and 1600-meter relay (4:13) ... city record holder in the 1600-meter relay (4:13) ... member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Student Senate and DECA ... born April 11, 1990 in Dallas, Texas ... daughter of Jerry and Jeannette Velarde ... youngest of three children ... sister, Rebecca, competed in cross country and track at William and Mary ... sister Melanie ran track and cross country at the University of New Mexico ... aunt, Sally Marquez, played basketball at New Mexico ... majoring in psychology.