Katja was consistently among the top 5-6 runners on the team in every race last season. She ran particularly well in the important meets and improved tremendously after having a year off with an injury, according to Coach Mike Collins. She played an important role in the success of the team during the season.

She competed in track last spring and qualified for the NAIA national meet where she finished 16th in the 10-kilometer run. In 2005, she redshirted after coming down with mononucleosis and a stress fracture before coming to the United States.

PERSONAL: Born Sept.4, 1986 in Norway. Her parents are Anne Palm and Kjell Loevslett, and she has three older brothers – Kjell Ivar, Lars Petter, and Hakon – and one sister, Maja.

HIGH SCHOOL: During her junior year at Capital High School in Boise, she placed 12th and her team took third at the state cross country meet. In track, she qualified for state and finished seventh in the 1 mile and was eight in the 2-mile run. In the Norwegian championships, she placed sixth as a senior running for the Skalg Running Club.

FAVORITE MOVIE: “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”

FAVORITE FOOD: Fondue