Aged just 12, Katharine was ranked number one in 7 different events in the UK age group rankings & when concentrating on sprinting at 13 started her GB international career. A year later she ran a stunning 7.35s indoors for the 60m, becoming the fastest girl in the world over the distance, a world age record that stood for 29 years.  

In a record 5 Under 20 major Championships she collected 6 medals including gold at the European Junior Championships over 200m in 1993.

The fastest woman in the UK from 18 years old, Katharine flew into the 2000 season in her new event of the 400m with one sole objective, the Sydney Olympics.  With a 112,000 capacity crowd Katharine ran a lifetime best (49.72s) to win the Bronze medal behind Australian heroine Cathy Freeman. Many referring to this race as one of the most iconic in Olympic history.

The following year Katharine broke the British women's indoor 400m record, setting a time of 50.53s, to add to her 200m British Indoor record of 22.83s. Her 200m British record still stands today.

Outdoors in 2001 she was the fastest woman in the world running the gruelling one lap event in 49.59s and is still ranked both indoors and outdoors as one of the fastest women ever in the UK over the sprint events.

Injury forced Katharine to retire in 2005 after a glittering and unique junior and senior career.