ON TRACK FOR 800
Flagstaff, Arizona. Call it paradise. Altitude: 7,000 feet.
And Burlington’s Ashley Taylor has fallen in love with paradise. And for good reason.
Five years ago, the Nelson High School grad inked a track scholarship to attend Northern Arizona University (NAU) in the mountain town which embraces the historic Route 66.
Three times decorated as OFSAA champion in hurdles and a member of Team Canada at the 2011 World Youth Games, Taylor became a significant signing for the NAU Lumberjacks.
During her freshman and sophomore seasons, she captured the Big Sky Conference 400-metre hurdles titles establishing a NAU record.
And as a junior, Taylor seized silver over the 10 barriers.
But, in her senior season, the decorated 400m hurdler decided to take on a different challenge: the 800 metres.
“I wasn’t happy with the 400m hurdles anymore,” said Taylor. “I wanted more. I knew I could compete at nationals (the NCAA championships) in the 800m. I just needed the right guidance and training to get me there.” And get there she did.
“We (NAU coaching staff ) saw the potential Ashley had from the start,” assistant coach, Becca DeLoache said. “Ashley dove right into the new training and immediately excelled. She destroyed all the workouts we threw her way. This is when we knew we had something special on our hands.”
In 2017, Taylor clocked 2:10 for two laps. In 2018, the clock stopped at 2:02.99.
“Remarkable and impressive is spot on,” DeLoache said of Taylor’s monstrous breakthrough.
And to what did Taylor attribute her rapid rise?
“My breakthrough happened because I stayed accountable to myself, my team, my coaching staff, and my goals,” the exercise science major graduate said. “I was so excited to change from sprinter workouts to distance workouts.”
And she believes there’s so much more to come.
“I am still learning how to run it,” said Taylor. “It’s a fun learning curve. Every race is so different. You have to be smart.
Named multiple times Big Sky female athlete of the week, the two-time first-team All-American capped her collegiate career with a third-place finish at the NCAA Division I championships in Eugene, Ore., and added NAU female athlete of the year in her senior season.
In a NAU media release, head coach Mike Smith poured praise on Taylor’s phenomenal performance at the 2018 NCAA Championships.
“Third in the nation is a spectacular performance,” said Smith. “Ashley’s clearly shown she belongs in this company with the best of America (in the 800m).”
The 23-year-old continues to train at altitude targeting the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She is also pursuing a masters degree in human relations while serving as lifeskills co-ordinator graduate assistant in studentathlete development.
“Ashley is a dream to coach,” said DeLoache. “We are back in the trenches of training now and I cannot wait to see what this upcoming season unfolds for Ashley.”
Cecelia Carter Smith is a former four-time Canadian Champion and world indoor record holder in track and is a member of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame and the McMaster Sports Hall of Fame.