Winnipegger Victoria Tachinski sprints past Canadian records

Winnipeg teenVictoria Tachinski is outpacing the competition in Canada and the U.S..

The 16-year-old Vincent Massey Collegiate student ran the fastest ever time by a female Canadian youth at the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville on Saturday.

She won the women's 800 metre in 2:03.56,beating out professionals, college students andpast-Olympians.

"I knew all of their times before the race. I was like, 'Wow, these girls are fast,'" Tachinski said. "I had no idea that I could compete with them."

Tachinskialsodefeatedher own personal best by 3.3 secondsand seta new Canadian youth record.

The previous record was set in 2010by Winnipeg-born Carly Paracholski at 2:05.99.

Tachinski already held Canadian indoor records for the 300 metre, 400 metre and 600 metre distances for runners under the age of 18.

Rougher race

The 400 metre isTachinski'sfavourite distanceandtakes about one minute to completefor someone at her level. An 800 metre takes twice as long andrunners are also allowed to switch lanes freely.

I feel strong, I feel confident and I feel like I am the person who Itrulyam when I am on the track.-Victoria Tachinski

"The 400, you have the safety of your own lane. Unlike an 800; everyone goes down to lane one," she said. "You're all together, you're all pushing each other and there is contact in races."

One of the motivatingforces propelling Tachinski to the finish line in Nashville was the hope of making Canada's junior team, which is heading to Poland for the International Association of Athletics Federations' U20Championships this summer.

"The field of athletes was amazing, and there was so many talented runnersand they kind of pulled me along through the race," Tachinskisaid, adding she hasn't officially received news of whether she secured a spot on the team yet, but she's pretty confident about her odds.

Either way, the Grade 11 studentis already fielding calls "from a lot of universities" and hopes to continue the next leg of her racing career with a school that will help her grow as a runner.

"I've wanted to be a runner since I was fiveyearsold. For me, being on the track is like no other thing. I am so passionate about it [that] when I am on the track I feel like a brand new person. I feel strong, I feel confident and I feel like I am the person who I truly am when I am on the track."