​runner Stories

For Elena Caruso, life is a series of mechanical demands. At UCLA, the sun isn't a source of warmth; it is a spotlight on the track at Drake Stadium, where every stride she takes is monitored by her father's silent, heavy expectations. Being a sophomore "track star" sounds like a dream to her peers, but to Elena, it's a high-stakes cage. Her parents have curated her life like a museum exhibit-expensive, pristine, and untouchable. They provide the Bel-Air condo, the designer athletic gear, and the tuition, but the cost is her total autonomy. Every "gift" is a debt she pays back in sweat and gold medals.