Castillo Earns NWC Men's Track Student-Athlete of the Week

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Leo Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS), a distance runner for the Willamette University track and field team, has been named Northwest Conference Men's Track Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts at the Willamette Invitational on Friday, April 1.

Castillo won the "A" section of the 10,000-meter run and achieved an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time during the 4th Annual Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance on Friday night. Castillo won the race with a time of 30:38.01, as he recorded the win by 0.33 seconds over Jonathan Marcus of the Bowerman Athletic Club.

As the race reached the final 200 meters, Castillo pulled into the lead. He saw Marcus moving along side him with about 50 meters to go. Castillo continued to hold a slim lead across the finish line. Marcus took second place in 30:38.34.

Castillo's winning time was approximately 35 seconds under the NCAA provisional standard of 31:13.00. Castillo has the sixth fastest time in NCAA Division III so far this spring.

A provisional qualifying time does not guarantee that an athlete will compete at the NCAA Championships. It does, however, place the athlete on a list of eligible top times which the NCAA uses to determine additional competitors who will join automatic qualifiers in the event.