Days after College of the Canyons athlete Tim White won the triple jump event at the U.S. Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships, another Santa Clarita native made headlines in Track and Field.

Alysia Montaño won the Women’s 800 Meter race on Sunday at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. She became the first woman to win four straight 800 meter titles at this event.

The former Canyon High School graduate ran a blistering time of 1:58:67, edging out her closest competition by 11 milliseconds.

The next major track and field event is the IAAF world championships which take place in Moscow in August, and Montaño will likely be in attendance.

However, she has focused most of her energy on the 2016 Olympic Games which take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Montaño did not receive any medals during the 2012 London Games, so she certainly hopes to improve her performance. She chooses to not stress about winning a medal, but realizes it is an important goal to strive for.

The former Santa Clarita Valley Athlete of the Year distinguishes herself from other runners by wearing a flower in her hair during races. She typically trains with male athletes, so she uses the flower as a sign of pride in her femininity.

She has become a well-known runner not only because of the flower she wears, but for her outgoing personality as well. Her free spirit and contagious laugh make her a popular competitor on the world scene with both athletes and fans.

Despite her extremely upbeat personality, she is known as a fierce competitor with unparalleled determination. This is evidenced by her success in the 800 meters, known as one of the most difficult races since it is considered to be a long sprint.

The former Berkeley student holds several Pac-10 and regional meet records in the 800 meters, 4×400 relay, and sprint medley. In her professional career, Montaño holds the fifth-fastest American time ever in the 800-meter race with a time of 1:57:34.

At the conclusion of her track and field career, Montaño hopes to open a personal fitness studio for working mothers, fathers, or entire families. Her main goal is to educate the parents of a family, so that they can spread their knowledge to children and create a healthier future generation.

– Joseph Anderson