There’s something surreal about stepping onto the iconic Hayward Field track in Eugene, Oregon—the kind of place every runner dreams about. Racing on one of the sport’s biggest stages this season was a full-circle moment for me, a reminder of the little girl from Phoenix who once dreamed of competing at the collegiate level. And somehow, that dream kept getting bigger.
This season has been one I’ll never forget.
From competing in Eugene to lining up at the well-established Drake Relays, I’ve had the opportunity to race in environments that brought out the very best in me. At Drake, I was able to set both a school record and a meet record, alongside 3 other incredible teammates—an accomplishment I’m extremely proud of, not because of the time on the clock, but because of everything it took to get there.
My collegiate athletic experience at Gonzaga University hasn’t always been glamorous. There were seasons of disappointment, moments of self-doubt, and times when it felt like my goals were always just out of reach. I spent much of my college career knowing I had more to give, celebrating the small wins while chasing bigger ones. But this year, things began to click.
What I’ve learned is that success is rarely about one race or one breakthrough moment—it’s about the process.
It’s about showing up every day. Getting one percent better. Stacking “plus days.” Trusting that the hard work you’re putting in, even when it feels invisible, will eventually add up.
I’m beyond grateful—for this program, for the resources, for the opportunities, and for the people who have made this journey so meaningful. My coaches, teammates, family, and especially my mom and little sister have carried me through every high and low. Their belief in me made moments like Eugene and Drake possible.
With that, I would like to end with one quote from an athlete I admire so much: Anna Hall—a world champion, Olympian, and, more importantly, someone who has leaned on and shared her faith.
This quote has truly captured and resonated with the collegiate student-athlete experience and is something I’ve looked at for the past three years. She says: “There is power in loving what you do—the process, the work, the climb. You have to love it because you’ll experience heartbreak along the way. You’ll go through slumps. Things will be unfair at times. And when those things happen, your love for what you do will carry you through.”carried me through the ups and downs comes from Anna Hall: “There is power in loving what you do—the process, the work, the climb.”
And she’s right.
Because when heartbreak comes—and it will—your love for the sport is what carries you through.
This season reminded me why I fell in love with running in the first place. And for that, I’m endlessly grateful.
Ashlinn Aguayo 
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