Carson's Reid follows in family footsteps

Multi-tasking in track and field is the norm for the Reid family.

Jim Reid competed in the decathlon at Azusa-Pacific College which is where he met his wife, Julie, who was heptathlete, on the school's track team. Jim's brother, Kevin, coaches world-class decathlete Bryon Clay, and also competed in track at Carson High in the early 80s.

And now, their son, Corey, a sophomore-to-be at Carson High, recently competed in his first decathlon at Mt. San Antonio College in Southern California.

If his first deacathlon is any indication, Corey Reid could have a bright future in the sport. Reid was first in his grade level and second overall at the Mt. Sac High School Decathlon with a score of 5.260 points for the 10 events, which included wins in the high jump (6-2), 400 (51.0) and 1500 meters (4:35).

Not bad for a guy who was unsure whether he wanted to compete or not when his dad first broached the subject to him.

"I didn't want to have to compete against a bunch of seniors," Reid admitted. "Once I found out that they did it by grade level, I thought I might have a chance (to do well). I didn't even think about winning until after the first day was over and I was first."

By doing so well, Reid may have earned an invitation next spring to the Arcadia Invitatonal, which is one of the top track meets on the West Coast.

Reid beat his nearest freshman competitor by approximately 1,000 points, and he surpassed his goal of 5,000 feet.

"Yeah, that was a good score," said the elder Reid, who along with his wife, are assistants on the Carson track team. "It's a very good score for anywhere. He wanted to get 5,000 points. After nine events, he needed to run around a 5:20, and he goes out and runs a 4:35.

"The (college) coaches at Mt. Sac couldn't believe he was only a freshman. They told me we had something special."

What made Reid's performance even more impressive is that he didn't have much time to train during the high school season.

"I just did my normal high school workout and then learned the throws and the pace of the 1500," Reid said. "I'll do it (the 1600) a couple of times in high school, but I won't do it as regular event."

The Carson standout said the 400 and 1500 are probably his best events of the 10 in the decathlon, and his worst might be the discus where he threw "70-something" feet.

"I like the javelin (he threw 123 feet)," Reid said. "It's pretty fun to chuck a spear."

His dad. who coaches vaulters at Carson, thinks his son could be a good pole vaulter. He cleared 9-feet at the meet.

"I think he could be a good vaulter," said the elder Reid. "He's tall, fast and jumps well."

Corey hasn't grown into his body yet, but after one year at Carson he's already proven to be one of the best athletes on campus. He was a standout football player on the freshman team, and certainly would be a varsity player no later than his junior year.

Is he a football player competing in track or a runner just playing some football? Only time will tell for sure.

"This year will be more of a telling tale," said the elder Reid. "He enjoys both. I think right now he wants to continue to do both and see where it takes him."

"Right now I think I'm a runner who plays football," Reid said. "I've done more in track than I have in football. Football is fun. I'll at least play it all through high school."