Jim Grant / Nevada Appeal
In his short time at Carson High, Corey Reid has already established himself as one of the best competitors in the last 10 years, and that shouldn’t surprise anybody who has lived in this town for a while.
His dad, Jim, and his mom, Julie, were both good athletes in high school and both participated in college track at Azusa Pacific where Reid’s uncle, Kevin, a 1983 Carson High graduate, presently coaches. Track success is in his blood, and it would be more of a surprise if he hadn’t had the success that he’s enjoyed thus far.
Reid, who made state in the high jump and two relay events last year as a freshman, has a chance to better that on Saturday at the NIAA Division I finals at Damonte Ranch when he competes in the 400, 800, 1600 relay and high jump. He is ranked first in the high jump, second in the two running events and the relay squad is ranked fourth.
Carson coach Robert Maw said he wouldn’t be at all surprised if Reid advanced in all three individual events, and that’s because he has a great mixture of athletic ability and a tremendous attitude.
“He hates to lose,” Maw said during a recent practice. “You can see it in the way he runs. He probably gets it (the competitive attitude) from both of his parents (Jim and Julie, both assistant coaches) were both track athletes in college. He’s got quite a family tradition that he’s trying to hold up to. Maybe he’s trying to one-up his dad. I’ve coached junior high volleyball against his mom for a few years, and she always wants to win.”
“He’s just a competitive person,” Jim Reid said. “It’s probably a combination of us both, He’s far ahead of what I did in high school. For a guy that young to possibly advance to state in three events is pretty good.
Parents coaching their kids isn’t always the most ideal thing, but Corey said it’s never been a problem.
“They have been my coaches my whole track career,” said the CHS sophomore. “They put a lot of pressure on me and push me because they know I can take it and do more. We talk about track at home a little bit, but not too much. Normally it’s just out at track practice.”
“You try and separate things,” said the elder Reid. “You come home and talk about the good and bad. We study videos at home. There is a time where I try to shut it off and be a dad and not a coach.”
Reid, who has been bothered by blisters late in the season, finished second to Sebastian Feyersinger of McQueen in the 400 (50.23) and to McQueen’s Connor Ross in the 800 (1:59.14) last weekend. All three race in both events which makes for an interesting day. It’s a tough double, but Reid’s one tough kid.
“I’m probably going to have to get down in the 49s to get that second spot on Saturday,” Reid said. “The 800 is going to be tough. There is Ross, and then Taylor (Bradshaw, Carson) and Kai (Benedict, McQueen) that were right behind me last week. They are trying to advance, too.
“I didn’t have any blister problems last week. I went with two pair of socks, and that seemed to work. It cut down on the friction. What makes it tough is the events are not that far apart,” Reid said. “I’m usually a little tired from the 400 when I’m running the 800. The 400 is an all-out sprint and the 800 is half a sprint. I train for the 400 and the 800 just comes long. I just work on speed and endurance. I like the 400 better because it’s only one lap and it doesn’t hurt as long afterward.”
In the 400, Reid said he’s been troubled by slow starts, meaning he has to run a strong final 200 meters.
“In the 800, I don’t like to run negative splits (last lap faster than first),” he said. “I would rather the laps be pretty even unless I get boxed in and somebody else is setting the pace.”
The one event where Reid should be the proverbial lead pipe cinch is the high jump where he has a season best of 6-6, which is second in the state. He only jumped once at the trials (5-10), and may not have to jump higher to move on. Certainly the fewer jumps the better considering he has three running events to deal with after the high jump.
“Six feet will probably make it, maybe 6-2 if everybody is having a good day,” Reid said.