Merced High track star makes college choice official heading into section masters meet
Merced High School senior Cristian Castro started running with a purpose last year when he realized his speed could be his ticket to a college education.
The versatile sprinter established himself as one of the best in the Central California Conference before a leg injury ended his season prematurely at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet.
“Last year was the first time I took it seriously,” Castro said. “Coach Joe (Valenzuela) made me want to strive to be better. I realized I had a chance to have my college paid for by running fast.”
Healthy again this season, Castro has only gotten faster.
And colleges have noticed.
Castro signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to accept a track scholarship to Cal State East Bay.
Castro will join his brother as the first in their family to go to college.
“My brother and I are changing family history,” Castro said. “He graduated from UC Merced last year and he’s working as an EMT on his way to becoming a surgeon.”
Castro plans on majoring in kinesiology at Cal State East Bay. He compiled a 3.0 GPA in high school.
Castro grew up in the Bay Area until he was 9 years old and said he likes that the Cal State East Bay campus is close to Oakland, San Jose and the beach.
“The campus was beautiful and the environment was very welcoming and friendly,” he said. “It felt like home.”
Castro said he’s quickly forming a good relationship with Cal State East Bay track and field coach Norm Alston.
“Coach Norm, coach Joe and I all come from the same place,” Castro said. “They both grew up in the Central Valley, where not a lot of kids get seen. Coach Norm sees a lot in me that he saw in himself in terms of hard work and dedication.”
Castro ran a personal best time in the 100-meter dash of 10.79 seconds. His best time in the 200 is 21.91 seconds, and in the 400, it’s 48.75 seconds.
It’s a busy week for Castro as he travels to Davis for the section masters meet Friday, with the hopes of qualifying for the finals Saturday.
Last week, Castro finished first in the 200 and second in the 400 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championships.
“I am really looking forward to it because I wasn’t able to run last year after I pulled my hamstring during the 100 prelims,” ‘Castro said. “It’s about redemption this Friday.”
With his college choice officially out of the way, he can focus on the rest of the season.
“I’m excited to see what happens as I go on this track journey,” Castro said.
