For Ben De Santiago, the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level didn’t happen all at once—it developed over time through consistency, growth, and a willingness to stay committed to the process even when the path wasn’t guaranteed.
That process led him to Concordia University Irvine, where he has committed to continue his track career after high school.
“I committed to Concordia University of Irvine,” De Santiago said with a smile.
The connection between De Santiago and Concordia began during his sophomore year, when the program first reached out and communication started to build. As that relationship developed, so did the expectations—including a moment that could have gone either way.
“When I went on my visit, they told me I wasn’t fast enough to run for them,” he said.
Instead of walking away from that feedback, De Santiago leaned into it.
“Throughout my work, between cross country and track this year, I’ve put in the time, put in the work, and I’ve finally got a spot,” he said.
He will begin his collegiate career as a walk-on, with the opportunity to earn a scholarship in the years ahead.
“As of now, their money is capped out, so I can’t get a scholarship for the first year,” De Santiago said. “But after that—my sophomore, junior, and senior years—there’s definitely potential to earn one.”
In the meantime, his academic performance has already made a significant impact on his future.
“My academic scholarship cuts the cost almost directly in half,” he said.
De Santiago navigated the recruiting process with the help of the NCSA platform, which provided both structure and guidance.
“It was very organized,” he said. “I had someone helping me through it, almost like a mentor. I could see when Concordia looked at my profile, and that’s when I reached out. From there, we just kept building that connection.”
While Concordia ultimately stood out, it wasn’t the only school showing interest.
“I had a few offers—some in Indiana, Kansas, even Texas,” he said. “But Concordia was always different. That’s where my heart was.”
For De Santiago, the decision came down to more than just the opportunity to compete.
“No school, no coach, no athlete from those colleges moved me the way Concordia did,” he said. “It wasn’t just the coach—it was the program, the atmosphere, the school, what they stand for. And when I visited, I saw how bought in the athletes were.”
At Concordia, he plans to study psychology and business, with the goal of becoming a psychologist and eventually opening his own firm.
That next step is built on a foundation shaped by the people who supported him along the way.
“Definitely my mom and dad—mainly my mom,” De Santiago said. “She’s always pushed me, always believed in me. Early mornings, late nights, she’s always been there.”
He credits his mother as the constant presence behind his development, while his father helped instill his early competitive mindset and love for sports.
On the track, Dan Nagle, along with Bryce and Erik Odegard, played a major role in his growth, particularly during challenging moments.
“They always saw the potential in me,” De Santiago said, “even after everything that happened with my injuries.”
Those challenges included knee and hamstring injuries as well as concussions from other sports—obstacles that tested his resilience but ultimately strengthened his approach.
He also points to Dominiqué Maloy as the person who first sparked his interest in track.
“She’s the person who actually started me in track,” he said. “I saw how good of an athlete she was, and I just wanted to follow in her footsteps.”
Beyond coaches and mentors, De Santiago emphasized the role of the Veloz family in his journey, describing them as an extension of his own support system.
“They feel like my second family,” he said. “Even though I’m not related to them, they’ve always been there supporting me.”
That sense of community provided encouragement far beyond competition, helping him stay focused and motivated through every phase of his high school career.
His athletic background includes football, wrestling, and cross country, but it was track where he ultimately found his identity.
“Football was something I loved, but it wasn’t truly mine. It was my dad’s sport,” he said. “Wrestling was my uncle’s sport. Track was the only one that was truly mine.”
That realization led to a defining decision his senior year—to step away from football and fully commit to running through cross country and track.
“I ran cross country to build my stamina and endurance,” he said. “But it also gave me a different mindset. It taught me that no matter how bad it hurts, you just have to push a little longer.”
That mindset carried over into his leadership style as well.
“My leadership is just showing up every day and working hard,” De Santiago said. “You can tell people what to do, but you can’t make them do it. If you show them what it takes, they’ll follow.”
As he heads into the final stretch of his high school career, including regionals, his goals remain clear.
“I’ve never won the region in the 400,” he said. “This year, my goal is to push as hard as I can and be the first person across the line. I want to break a record again in front of my home crowd.”
At the same time, he’s learned to stay present in the moment.
“You can’t overthink it,” he said. “You just have to enjoy it while it lasts. Being a senior, realizing I only have a little time left, it’s taught me to take it all in.”
That balance of focus and perspective is something he hopes younger athletes will carry with them as well.
“Anything’s possible,” De Santiago said. “You can start anywhere and still end up on the top. But don’t lose your focus.”
Now, with his commitment in place, De Santiago’s story reflects a journey built on steady improvement, strong support, and a willingness to embrace every part of the process, proof that opportunities at the next level are earned one step at a time.
