Santa Fe Runner Choosing Army Over Running Scholarship

Christian Powell is a very good runner. He's top-5 in the state in cross country, and top-10 in the mile and two mile in track. Powell has scholarship offers from Oral Roberts and Tulsa, among others.

"I had gotten a lot of offers, but I wasn't sure what I was gonna go for," Powell said.

Meeting with Army recruiters made his choice clear: Powell wants to be an Army Ranger. The elite, lethal, special forces regimen.

"That's just the coolest thing possible for anybody in the Army to do, jump out of airplanes and help people who can't help themselves," Powell said.

But it's a lot more than just the cool factor.

"I was really into it because it was hard,” Powell said. “The hardest thing they have; I wanted to do the hardest thing they have."

Powell says he gets mixed reactions when he tells people about choosing combat over college.

"I get that weird look, like, what are you doing with your life?” he said.

Kurt Thomas is Christian's head coach in cross country, and assistant track coach at Santa Fe.

"To sacrifice for his country, there's nothing more honorable,” Thomas said. “He's definitely a guy I want defending me after four years around him."

Just like the coach, mom was on board with Christian joining the Army right away. As for convincing dad, that was a tall hurdle to clear.

Michael Powell: "That's a big decision to commit to the military and I wanted him to be sure that that was what he really wanted to do," Christian's father, Michael, said.

Christian leaves for basic training on June 15, a couple weeks after graduation.

Kathy Powell, Christian's mom, is well aware that the clock is ticking.

"I savor every minute,” she said. “You know, silly things like making him lunch, you know. When he comes back, he's not gonna be my little boy anymore, so it's just appreciating every moment we have."

Christian says he may run in college after his three-year commitment in the Army is up.