CLU Runner Improves by Taking Control of Castle

Cal Lutheran cross-country runner Art Castle has finally become consistent.

After a third-place finish at the Fullerton Invitational, he won the Chapman and Westmont Invitationals on Sept. 20 and 27. His time of 22:30 at Chapman broke the four-mile course record by 21 seconds.

On Saturday, Castle, 21, finished second at the Bakersfield Invitational with a personal-best time of 30:50 over the 10,000-meter course.

The 5-8 1/2, 129-pound distance runner said an improved training regimen has been the key to his success this season. “I’ve really worked on my strength this year,” he said. “I’m running 85 miles a week, which is 15 miles more than last year. And they’re better-quality miles.”

That doesn’t mean that Castle lacks talent. As a senior at Western High in Las Vegas, Nev., he won the large schools division at the state cross-country championships and the mile (4:21) and two-mile (9:18) at the state track championships. He has run 14:33 for 5,000 meters at Cal Lutheran.

Castle was initially attracted to running because of the competition. “I like it because you’re in control of everything,” he said. “You don’t have to depend on anyone else. If you run well you get all the credit and if you screw up you take the blame.

“It is very challenging, both mentally and physically,” he added. “It’s hard to condition yourself to run all-out for 31 minutes.”

Castle hopes that an all-out effort will produce a top-ten finish at the NAIA national championships in November.

Last year, he ran poorly at the national championships in conditions that included a rain-swept course with a wind-chill factor of minus-20 degrees.

He’s confident, however, that adverse weather won’t hurt his performance this year.

“With my improved strength, I’m confident that I’ll run well.”