Christina Gastfield had a great high school career at Rolling Meadows High School including three top ten finishes at the state cross country meet from 2008 to 2010. She started her college career at the University of New Mexico before transferring to Eastern Illinois University after one year where she is currently a redshirt freshman.
What was the biggest adjustment you had to make to compete at the college level?
There was a big adjustment from knowing your coach for four years, and then switching to a new one, with a different training technique. Then switching again to another school. I think the transition the second time was a lot smoother. The competition is also different. There was always someone I knew really well or recognized at each meet that I could make a goal to stick with during the race.
Is there anything you can tell high school athletes to better prepare them for the college experience?
In high school, take every piece of advice you can get. It’s great to take everyone’s concern and opinion in and make it your own. Also, don’t start out thinking your just a freshmen and think your not as good as everyone else. I didn’t know a lot going into my freshmen year of running in high school and I didn’t want to start off slow again my freshmen year of college the same way. Also, when you’re in college, focus on your grades, and running. The sooner you find the balance between the two, the easier.
What memories from competing in high school stand out the most?
After my final season of track, my coach from my freshmen and sophomore year helped me train to compete at Hayward field. It was one of the best experiences being surrounded by professional athletes everywhere. For me it was a once in a lifetime experience.
What do you miss most about running in high school?
I miss my teammates that I saw everywhere throughout the dayAnd that I knew a lot of my competition when I ran in each meet. liked the relationship between Coach Voyles and I and that I could walk into his office more frequently during the school day.
What piece of coaching or advice that someone gave you has been the biggest help?
My coach told me my freshmen year whenever I was running up a big hill or I though the pace was too hard, “everyone else is running the same pace and running up the same exact hill. Everyone else is feeling the same pain. It takes those runners that push past it that will do better.”
Personal Bests
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1,600 Meter Run5:08.50
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3200 Meter Run11:04.22
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Three Mile Run16:49.00
5,000 Meter Run18:17.00
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