OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 13, 2020) –  On March 15, the Lone Star Conference and Oklahoma Christian announced the cancellation of all spring sports for the 2020 season, including outdoor track and field, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
An abrupt end. A final whistle without the true feeling of finality.
 
The NCAA awarded season waivers to all athletes competing in spring sports in 2020, which granted seniors a fifth year of eligibility – if they chose to take it.
 
That left many seniors with a tough decision, including OC outdoor track athlete Kelsey Castillo.
 
Castillo, now a graduate student at OC, said the abrupt ending did not feel like the right way to end her years as an Eagle. After prayer and discussion with her coach, she decided to return.
 
"When I found out the 2020 track season was cancelled, I immediately thought about returning," Castillo said. "I wanted to come back and be with my teammates, who have become my best friends. Ending my running career so abruptly did not feel right and I wanted some closure. I knew that my body could handle another year of training. Everything came together well and worked out, thankfully."
 
Castillo graduated in April with her undergraduate degree in nursing and returned to OC this fall to pursue her Master of Business Administration degree in Health Services Management.
 
While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Castillo ran cross country and track for the Eagles. She completed her cross country eligibility last fall and her indoor track eligibility in February, with her final outdoor season in 2021.

OC cross country and track coach Wade Miller said he's happy to see Castillo return, because she represents a great example of success, both on the track and in the classroom.
 
"I was really excited when Kelsey decided to return to Oklahoma Christian and use the season of outdoor track that was cancelled last spring," Miller said. "She leads by example and provides a model of how to train and compete at a very high level and excel in her academics without compromising either.

"Her attitude and perspective lend to a positive training environment and she always works to encourage and support her teammates. There are so many intangibles that Kelsey brings to our program and we are thankful that she is at OC again this year."
 
Castillo proved she can be successful both in her academics and in running. She ran on three relay teams that set school records – the distance medley and the indoor and outdoor 3,200-meter relay. For the 2018-19 season, she earned All-Great American Conference second-team recognition in the mile and distance medley relay. She was also named as a GAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete.
 
Just as Miller said Castillo brings a positive and shining personality to the team, Castillo said one of the main reasons she returned was because of her "family-like" relationship with her teammates – a relationship which taught her about growth as both an athlete and a person.
 
"We can have so much fun together and we can also be serious and put in hard work together," Castillo said. "It has shown me you can be serious and passionate about the sport and have so much fun at the same time."

Kenya Bailey, one of Castillo's teammates, said she was overjoyed to have Castillo return, because it meant the return of her running partner, role model and friend.

"Kelsey is by far one of the hardest-working teammates I've known," Bailey said. "She works hard in everything she does and is an all-around runner. Kelsey is honestly the best role model to have around. She is hard-working not only on the track, but in school too. With her being nursing graduate, she helps me when I'm struggling and is really always there when I need her."
 
As Castillo pursues her master's degree, she also balances a part-time job as a registered nurse at Southern Nazarene University. Castillo said it's been different not running cross country this season and balancing "adult life" while still participating in college activities.
 
"I always tell people I feel like I have one foot in the 'real world' and one foot in the college life," Castillo said. "I am so used to being an only full-time student and either being in class or at practice all day. My classes being online has been an adjustment, but I am very thankful because it allows me to work and make it to practice."
 
As Castillo prepares to enter her last season of competitive collegiate running, she said it makes her remember why she fell in love with running in the first place.
 
"As I got into high school, I began to see how rewarding running is," Castillo said. "I started to see how my training was making me stronger and faster. Being able to see improvement made me love running. I also saw how your teammates can become some of your best friends, and I loved the feeling of having a team that felt like family."
 
Castillo said with a lot of uncertainty this season her main goal is to love running – every chance she gets to do it.
 
"I would definitely love to improve all of my personal bests this year, and as of now, I think I will be able to do that," Castillo said. "There still is not much clarity on what the season will look like, so right now I am just enjoying every moment I have on the team. My second goal is to not take anything for granted and take advantage of every opportunity I have to get stronger."