Burns Qualifies for Nationals

Aaron Burns, a senior from Villa Park, Illinois, has already qualified for Indoor Nationals in the triple jump and high jump, but hopes to represent Ashford University at the national event in the long jump and 4 x 400 relay too.

 

Burns transferred to Ashford University from the College of DuPage after two very successful years.  He was a five-time All-American; twice in the high jump, twice in the triple jump, and once in the relay.  He was also a five-time High Jump National Champion. 

 

Burns represented the Saints at Nationals last year and finished fifth in the Triple Jump competition with a distance of 14.65 meters.  He was honored with the NAIA All-American Award.  He has set his standards high again this year, with goals of qualifying for nationals in the triple jump, high jump, and the relay.  “I want to help to get as many other athletes from Ashford there too,” Burns said.  “It is an unbelievable experience, one that I want to share with them.”

 

Burns, who plans to graduate form Ashford in December 2006 with a Criminal Justice degree, is not done with Track and Field though; he has aspirations of training in Europe with a former coach, who was an assistant Olympic coach for Bulgaria.