(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s track and field team is naming distance runner Ashton Takhar, of Vernon, British Columbia, to their recruiting class of 2022.

Takhar has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2022-2023 Atlantic University Sport season.

“Ashton is a driven young man that comes from strong club and school programs,” said Chris Belof, the head coach of the REDS track and field and cross country teams. “He’s incredibly hard-working, both athletically and academically.”

“I liked the atmosphere at the University of New Brunswick,” said Takhar. “The prospect of training under the advisement of a good coach, as well as forging new friendships with student-athletes and other members of the university community is what drew me to UNB.” 

The 17-year-old is finishing his Grade 12 year at Clarence Fulton Secondary School, in Vernon.

In 2021, Takhar won all of the North Okanagan Zone high school cross country races.

“I bring a strong work ethic and commitment to the team, and I hope to be a leader on the team,” said Takhar, a veteran member of the Vernon Amateur Athletics Association club program.

“We’re excited to have Ashton joining us and I know he’s only starting to explore his abilities in our sport. His range of abilities, both on the track and in cross country, make him an exciting addition to our distance group, and we expect him to contribute at the AUS and U SPORTS levels early in his career,” said Coach Belof.

Takhar says his short-term goal with the REDS is to acclimatize to training with the team and with a new coach. Long-term, he hopes to be a contender for the podium at the AUS and U SPORTS Championships.

Takhar will study Arts while attending UNB.

PHOTO: Submitted