Athlete of the Week: Burney’s extroverted personality fits well into Sting girls track team

by Erik Nelson

Sports Reporter

When she was in the fifth grade, Spectrum sophomore Alaina Burney and her class took a field trip to the track at Elk River High School. Burney tried a few things and ended up liking track. She then decided that when she entered high school, she would compete for the girls track and field team.

Now, more than five years later, Burney is developing into a strong athlete for the Sting girls track and field team.

“I put together a relay team [with] some of my friends,” Burney said. “I liked it. If you win an event and score points, you get to contribute to that total. It’s fun to know that even though you’re running individually, you’re still supporting your team.”

Burney’s hard work has paid off, as she finished first in the girls 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the long jump, as well as second in the girls 4x100-meter relay race at the MCAA conference championships on Thursday, May 16, at The International School of Minnesota in Eden Prairie. She received all-conference honors in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the long jump. Additionally, the girls 4x100 relay team received an MCAA honorable mention.

As a student, Burney’s favorite school subject is history. This semester, she’s taking a college-level U.S. history course, algebra II, a college-level photography class, American literature, and biology.

Burney is the second oldest of five siblings. Her older sister, Leah Burney, is a 2021 alumnus of Spectrum High School. She is currently an ROTC student at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, majoring in criminal justice. Leah served in the U.S. Army National Guard and wants to become a police officer. When she was a student at Spectrum, she was a captain on the Sting dance team.

Alaina Burney said her older sister is one of her biggest role models.

“She’s a big inspiration for me,” Alaina said. “She did well in school when she was in high school. She’s achieved a lot in her life. She has a lot of passion. I try to be like her.”

Alaina also has three younger siblings. Her sister, Lyla Burney, is homeschooled and will be a freshman at Spectrum High School this fall. Another sister, Olivia Burney, is a sixth grader at Spectrum Middle School, which is across the street from Spectrum High School. Her brother, Landon Burney, is the youngest of the five Burney children and is a fourth grader at Three Rivers Montessori School in Elk River.

Alaina said that she hopes her younger siblings take on a similar work ethic when they enter high school, whether it’s doing well academically or giving a complete effort in sports.

“You have to put in the hard work,” she said. “I’ve been working hard in the offseason,” Burney said. “The season definitely started slow for me. Then, with more practice, things started to ramp up. My times were not where I wanted them to be, but now I’m getting where I want to be.”