Phillip Castillo was the 1992 Division II Cross Country Champion while at Adams State College in Alamosa. That same year, Adams State set an NCAA record by tallying a perfect score to win the team title with a four second spread between their top five runners. Castillo, a nine-time All-American under coaching icon Joe Vigil, entered the Army in 1998 upon receiving his Masters degree in health from Adams State. While in the Army's World Class Athlete Program, Castillo has run 2:19:19 for the marathon in 1999, 49:29 at the Army 10 Miler in 2000, and 29:25 for 10,000-meters in 2002. American Track & Field reporter Jeremy Borling caught up with sergeant Castillo at the 'Chicago Moves' celebration in Chicago, where he was with other Army members promoting health and fitness in the city.

JB: How is your running going these days?
Castillo: Right now my training has been put on hold. I leave in August to go to officer candidate school and I'll graduate in May. After that I have to make a huge decision about my running.

JB: How does the Army's World Class Athlete Program work?
Castillo: It's a three year tour to train for the Olympics. It gives you the opportunity to compete at the national and international levels. There is equal opportunity for all soldiers to be accepted into the program, all you have to do is fill out an application. There are runners, swimmers, boxers...

JB: How does the World Class Athlete Program serve the Army?
Castillo: It's great exposure for the Army. Basically, we're running billboards. We do a lot of traveling nationally and we do recruiting, visit high schools and talk to students. They get to see that joining the Army is not just about picking up a weapon and going to Iraq. There are so many different opportunities. It gets them excited about something new.

JB: With your position in the Army, is there a chance that you could be sent to the war in Iraq?
Castillo: It's always a possibility. My training is as a transportation officer, which is the backbone of the military. We're in it for the long haul in Iraq. We have a job to do over there.

JB: Do you still think about that great cross country season you had back in 1992?
Castillo: It's a feat we still talk about today (scoring 15 points at nationals). It's a feat that Coach Vigil still talks about today.

JB: Was that team made up entirely of Americans?
Castillo: Yes. The team that previously held the record (for low points at a cross country national meet) was UTEP, and I think they had all Kenyans. So the fact that it was all Americans on our team was quite on honor.

JB: What do you think about the 'Chicago Moves' program (a program that encourages people to exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times per week)?
Castillo: It's better late than never. In major cities, you see these statistics about obesity and it's sad. So it's good to see them doing something for the people. I hope there are more events like this. Hopefully it will catch fire with people and help them promote a healthy lifestyle for themselves.

JB: What is the Army's role here today?
Castillo: Fitness is a huge discipline in the Army. You have to be physically fit and mentally fit. Those things are important on the battlefields.