Hi, my name is Katie Castelli and I am part of the class of 2021 at Bishop O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  I run cross country as well as compete in the 3200m and 1600m during track season. I was team captain this past cross country season at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois and was elected track captain.  However, my life took an interesting turn when my dad got a new job and we had to relocate from the Chicago suburbs to the Mount Rushmore state—otherwise known as South Dakota.

In my two and a half years competing in one of the hotbeds for high school running in the country, Illinois, I earned two all state honors in cross country (9th, 25th) with a PR of 17:38 on the state three mile course.  I also earned state track honors last spring by coming in fifth in the 3200. (My PR in the 3200 is 11:09 and 5:16 in the 1600.) In addition, I earned All-American honors in the 3000m (2nd) and 1500m (8th) at the USTAF Junior Olympics nationals meet this past summer. I am looking forward to the track season this spring as I have been working with a new coach and a new training regimen, and I am confident it will be my best season to date.  My goal is to run a sub-eleven minute 3200 and a 1600 in under 5:06. I have a 93% GPA and will be taking the ACT in February.  

I am enthusiastic and energetic and a very dedicated and hard working athlete who always puts the team first. Whatever you need me to run I will do to the best of my capabilities, even if it is not my preferred event or I am not as confident in my running ability in this event. 

At Saint Viator, my old high school in the Chicago area, I was part of multiple clubs and extracurricular activities besides sports. I was part of the ambassadors club, environmental club, powerlifting club, campus ministry, and was a Eucharistic Minister.  At the end of my sophomore year, I was awarded a service award for completing 100+ service hours in that year and continue to do service now. Over these past few summers, I have worked as a volunteer camp counselor and a lifeguard at different facilities which has given me another sense of responsibility and work ethic.

 As with many events that have occurred in my life, this relocation in the middle of my junior year, has reemphasized to me that life takes many interesting turns— some good, some bad.  However, I have learned to embrace this, and I know that it will give me a more unique perspective as I begin choosing a college. In addition, one thing this move has definitely proved to me is that running is a priority, and that I love it, and I want to continue to run competitively for as long as possible.  For more information, please email me at katiecastelli2021@gmail.com.