2026 Women's Track & Field Roster
Makena Castillo
- Height:
- 5-3
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Huntington Beach, Calif.
- High School:
- Marina HS
2025 (Junior)
β’ Big West finalist in the 1500m
β’ Clocked a personal-record 4:36.47 in the conference prelims
β’ Also competed in the 5000m at the Big West Championships
β’ Notched an 800m PR 2:11.61 at the Bryan Clay Invitational
β’ Big West Spring All-Academic selection
β’ Made the Big West Commissionerβs Honor Roll with Highest Honors
2024 (Sophomore)
β’ Finished 12th in the 800m at the Big West Championships
β’ Clocked a season-best 2:14.07 at the Steve Scott Invitational
β’ Placed fourth out of 30 at the Beach Opener
β’ Also competed in the 1500m, notching a season-best 4:41.32 at the Bryan Clay Invitaitonal
β’ Earned Big West Spring All-Academic honors
2023 (Freshman)
β’ Big West qualifier in the 1500-meter
β’ Ran a season-best 4:42.08 at the Bryan Clay Invitational
β’ Had three top-10 finishes in four 800m races on the year
β’ Registered a season-best 2:17.62 at the Vince OβBoyle Classic
β’ Named to the Big West Spring All-Academic Team
2022 (Redshirt)
β’ Did not compete
High School
β’ Three-sport athlete, lettering in cross country, track and soccer at Marina High School
β’ Won the 2021 Sunset League Cross Country Finals with a 3-mile PR of 18:04.3
β’ Also claimed the 2021 Sunset League individual titles in the 800m, 1600m and 3200m and ran a leg on the first-place 4x400
β’ Advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division I Finals in the 1600m where she came in eighth with a lifetime-best 5:02.23
β’ Anchored the 4x800 that ran a school record 9:36.38 in a top-10 finish at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational
β’ Led the Vikings' soccer team to the third round of the CIF playoffs
β’ Named the 2020 league offensive MVP
β’ Selected as the 2021 Orange County Athletic Directors Association Girls' Athlete of the Year
Personal
β’ Majoring in public health sciences
β’ Member of the UCI cross country team
β’ Played eight years of club soccer
β’ Both parents are UCI track & field alums; Mother was an All-American and Big West champion in the hurdles
TOP MARKS AT UCI
800m = 2:11.61 (2025 Bryan Clay Invitational)
1500m = 4:36.47 (2025 Big West Championships)
Mile = 4:57.46 (2025 Steve Scott Invitational)
5000m = 17:20.13 (2025 Mangrum Invitational)
4x400 Relay = 3:53.37 (2025 Challenge Cup)
β’ Big West finalist in the 1500m
β’ Clocked a personal-record 4:36.47 in the conference prelims
β’ Also competed in the 5000m at the Big West Championships
β’ Notched an 800m PR 2:11.61 at the Bryan Clay Invitational
β’ Big West Spring All-Academic selection
β’ Made the Big West Commissionerβs Honor Roll with Highest Honors
2024 (Sophomore)
β’ Finished 12th in the 800m at the Big West Championships
β’ Clocked a season-best 2:14.07 at the Steve Scott Invitational
β’ Placed fourth out of 30 at the Beach Opener
β’ Also competed in the 1500m, notching a season-best 4:41.32 at the Bryan Clay Invitaitonal
β’ Earned Big West Spring All-Academic honors
2023 (Freshman)
β’ Big West qualifier in the 1500-meter
β’ Ran a season-best 4:42.08 at the Bryan Clay Invitational
β’ Had three top-10 finishes in four 800m races on the year
β’ Registered a season-best 2:17.62 at the Vince OβBoyle Classic
β’ Named to the Big West Spring All-Academic Team
2022 (Redshirt)
β’ Did not compete
High School
β’ Three-sport athlete, lettering in cross country, track and soccer at Marina High School
β’ Won the 2021 Sunset League Cross Country Finals with a 3-mile PR of 18:04.3
β’ Also claimed the 2021 Sunset League individual titles in the 800m, 1600m and 3200m and ran a leg on the first-place 4x400
β’ Advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division I Finals in the 1600m where she came in eighth with a lifetime-best 5:02.23
β’ Anchored the 4x800 that ran a school record 9:36.38 in a top-10 finish at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational
β’ Led the Vikings' soccer team to the third round of the CIF playoffs
β’ Named the 2020 league offensive MVP
β’ Selected as the 2021 Orange County Athletic Directors Association Girls' Athlete of the Year
Personal
β’ Majoring in public health sciences
β’ Member of the UCI cross country team
β’ Played eight years of club soccer
β’ Both parents are UCI track & field alums; Mother was an All-American and Big West champion in the hurdles
TOP MARKS AT UCI
800m = 2:11.61 (2025 Bryan Clay Invitational)
1500m = 4:36.47 (2025 Big West Championships)
Mile = 4:57.46 (2025 Steve Scott Invitational)
5000m = 17:20.13 (2025 Mangrum Invitational)
4x400 Relay = 3:53.37 (2025 Challenge Cup)
Anteater Spotlights | Ep. 6 | Zharia Taylor
Wednesday, January 21
π π¦π¨π¦ππ§π π°π'π₯π₯ π§ππ―ππ« ππ¨π«π ππ π₯Ή #TogetherWeZot | #Shorts
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Before Vs. After the 1500 π
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Tuesday, March 18
An average day at the track βοΈ #TogetherWeZot | #Shorts
Wednesday, March 05
