Burnsview student wins three gold medals at national track and field championships

Burnsview Secondary Grade 12 student Tanaz Aulakh-Kahlon represented Team BC at the Legion National Track and Field Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan, this summer. She won gold in the 400 metres, 400-metre hurdles and 4x400-metre relay, and holds multiple provincial titles in those events.

Aulakh-Kahlon ran the 400-metre hurdles in 58.63 seconds, improving her personal best by more than a second and setting a championship record. It was her first race under one minute, and she said the result ranks her second among North American U18 athletes this year. Her 54.05-second 400-metre result was just off her personal best. The performances earned her the Leroy Washburn Award, presented to the top female athlete at the national meet.

She said months of consistent training, physical conditioning and mental preparation preceded the championships. Aulakh-Kahlon credited coach Jessie Dosanjh, her family and teammates with supporting her development, and said balancing school with training has taught her time management, discipline and resilience.

In her final year in the U18 category, she said the triple gold, championship record and award followed two earlier Legion appearances that had not gone as she hoped. She plans to pursue an undergraduate degree while aiming to compete at the NCAA Division I level and improve her 400-metre and 400-metre hurdles times.