Pahrump track standout Ben De Santiago commits to Concordia University Irvine

Ben De Santiago turned a sophomore-year recruiting conversation into a college track opportunity, committing to Concordia University Irvine after cutting the Pahrump Valley High School 400-meter record down to 49.21 seconds and earning a chance to join the Golden Eagles as a walk-on.

The path was not immediate. De Santiago said the university first reached out during his sophomore year, and the recruiting process kept building from there. On a visit, he was told he was not yet fast enough for the program. Instead of stepping away, he used that message as fuel, putting in the work through cross country and track until the gap closed enough to open the door to an NCAA Division II roster spot.

Academic success helped make the offer even more meaningful. De Santiago said strong grades cut the cost of college nearly in half, giving the commitment value beyond athletics alone. His recruiting profile through NCSA Sports identified him as a Pahrump Valley High School track athlete, showing how school performance, outside recruiting tools and steady development combined to carry a Nye County runner into the next level.

The results on the track backed up the climb. Athletic.net lists De Santiago’s 2026 outdoor bests at 11.30 in the 100 meters, 22.21 in the 200, 49.21 in the 400 and 2:01.28 in the 800. Pahrump Valley Community News reported that he first broke the PVHS 400 record at the Ken Jensen Invitational on March 13 with a 50.34, then lowered it again to 49.65 at the Sam Germany Invitational on March 28, and again to 49.21 at the Richard Lewis Invitational on April 24. That mark was his fourth school-record reset in one season.

The 49.21 also carried statewide weight. A report dated April 30 said the time ranked De Santiago third across all Nevada classifications and first in Class 3A. Earlier meet results had already pointed to the trajectory, including a 23.31 in the 200 and a 50.53 in the 400 at a Pahrump Midweek meet in 2025.

De Santiago now heads to Irvine, California, to join a Concordia program that competes at the NCAA Division II level under the Golden Eagles banner. The school’s track and field program has recently produced national-level results, including Jasmyn Crawford’s First Team All-American performance at the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, a reminder of the standard De Santiago is joining after years of incremental gains in Pahrump.