NAMPA, Idaho – Elijah Castro is a man of few words.

Unless he is in a kayak or raft, guiding tourists through the rapids of the Rogue River in southwest Oregon.

The Northwest Nazarene sophomore has spent his last two summers braving Class IV rapids in the wild and scenic Rogue and the North Umpqua rivers working for Orange Torpedo Trips based out of Merlin, Ore.

"I've grown up on that river and gone down it so many times I know every inch of it now," he said. "You get to meet a lot of really cool people from different parts of the world – owners of companies and just really interesting people."

Castro was anything but quiet for the Nighthawks track and field team last season.

He set the school record in the long jump for indoors at 23 feet, 8.75 inches and outdoors at 23-3.25. He also was second in the long jump and 110-meter hurdles at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor championships and second in the long jump at the outdoor meet.

Castro begins his second season with NNU on Saturday at the Jacksons Open at the Idaho Center's indoor track facility.

"I really just want to go out in this first meet and get some marks and have a little fun," he said. "And then have some time to rest over Christmas break and get back into things (in January)."

Trying to improve on such a stellar freshman season could be daunting, but Castro is prepared for the challenge and part of that is breaking out of his shell with teammates and coaches.

"It has been interesting to see him open up the way he has from quiet reserved to outgoing fun," fellow sophomore Dakota Tidwell said. "I think as a teammate he is connecting with a lot of the freshmen and upper classmen because he is opening up and talking. It is really cool seeing that."

Castro isn't your typical leader in the sense of giving grand speeches, but he certainly can lead by example. The nursing major has been competing in track and field since he was in seventh grade, eventually advancing to the state meet for Hidden Valley High located just outside of Grants Pass, Ore.

His older brother and his mom, Eva, were both sprinters in track, but Elijah has succeeded in the long jump.

He set the outdoor school record on his first jump and then broke it twice more. His goal this season is to go 24 feet in the long jump, which certainly is in range.

"It is going to be fun to see what he can do," said Nick Collins, NNU associate head track and field coach. "This fall he has been a lot more mature physically. I also think he will be mentally stronger, so if he can get on the board I think the big jumps will be there."