CHATTER: BYU DESTINATION FOR T.O. RUNNER.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

Thousand Oaks High senior Whitney McDonald has committed to run next season at Brigham Young University, whose women's cross country team has won two consecutive NCAA championships and four of the past six national titles.

``I'm really excited, but I'm also nervous because I know it's going to be, like, 10 steps higher than the high school level,'' McDonald said. ''This is a really good opportunity for me. It's such a high level of running, it's going to make me the best I can be.''

McDonald attended BYU's running camp last summer and officially was accepted to the university this month. She spoke with Cougars coach Patrick Shane - the three-time NCAA coach of the year - who told her she already had a locker and uniform set aside at the school.

``I always wanted to go to BYU,'' said McDonald, whose parents both attended the school. ``But I didn't know until, like, a year ago that they had the best program in the nation. It's been my goal to run there for the past year or so.''

McDonald plans to enroll at the university in the summer to begin training. She finished 12th at the state Division I cross country championship in November and helped lead the Lancers to a second-place finish behind Murrieta Valley.

McDonald has been sidelined the past six weeks with a knee injury, but she has resumed running and hopes to be 100 percent in time for her first college season.

Also this week, Thousand Oaks senior Ryan Ketcham committed to run both cross country and track at UC Irvine. He finished 13th in the state cross country championships.

Ketcham also considered Chico State but said the opportunity to run for a Division I program and the location of Irvine was too good to pass up.

``It's close to home, it's close to the beach,'' Ketcham said. ``I'm pretty excited.'' ...

Loyola of Los Angeles senior David Torrance, a Tarzana native who helped the Cubs earn their first-ever state cross country title in the fall, has committed to run at California next season. Torrance also had considered UCLA. ...

College of the Canyons linebacker Brad Lloyd has signed with Eastern Michigan. Nine players from the Cougars' Southern California championship team last season now have signed with Division I-A programs for next year. ...

Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller will be appearing Tuesday night at 7 at Monarchs Gymnastics in Agoura Hills. Miller won seven Olympic medals in her career and is the most decorated gymnast in United States history.

She will be talking to gymnasts in Monarchs youth programs and signing autographs. Her appearance also will help promote this summer's World Gymnastics Championships in Anaheim. Information: [phone].