Darrell Moody: Reid qualifies for nationals in decathlon

Corey Reid made a name for himself as one of the best and versatile track performers in recent history at Carson High, and he hasn’t missed a beat at the four-year-level.

Reid, a freshman decathlate at Azusa Pacific University, leaves Tuesday morning for Florida and the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships.

Reid qualified for the prestigious event May 13-14 at Westmont College, racking up 6,992 points. He’s one of 13 APU athletes making the trip to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and he’s ranked in the top 10 nationally.

For the weekend, however, he was back in his old stomping grounds volunteering at the NIAA state meet at Carson High.

“It’s been a lot of work for longer periods of time,” Reid said. “You have to work on so many events in one day compared to the single-event guys.

“I thought I could do this (qualify). I did a little better in some of the events and worse in others. I should have qualified the first time, but I had a little mishap in the high jump and no heighted.”

At the Westmont meet, he racked up more than 800 points in the 100 (11.26) and the 400 (49,49). He had more than 700 in the high jump (6-5 1/2), 110 high hurdles (15.78), pole vault (15-1) and 1500 (4:24.78). His worst events have been the shot put (34-2 1/4) and the discus (104-1).

“I need to get stronger,” Reid said. “I’m getting better. The other guys are usually stronger. I need to catch up to them.

“I finally got over 15 feet in the pole vault. My high jump is going well. I’ve gone 6-7 in the high jump so it’s an inch better from high school. I’ve been in the 21s for the long jump. I think I can get to 23 feet if I hit it right, but most of the time I’m in the mid to low 21s.”

Reid said he competes in individual events when he isn’t doing a decathlon.

“We go to various meets and work on something different (different event) every weekend,” Reid said.

•••

As state meets go, this one ran smoothly.

The biggest issue was the weather on Friday. but it cleared up nicely on Saturday. Coaches and officials were treated to dinner on Friday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. John Hurzel of Grandma Hatties catered the meals. Last year at Del Sol, according to several northern Nevada coaches, there was no hospitality area for them.

Again, Carson High has proven to be a great host whether it’s basketball playoffs, regional wrestling or track or state track. The school does it right. Kudos to Robert Maw, head track coach, Bob Bateman, athletic director, the press box personnel, meet officials and other volunteers.

I told Donnie Nelson of the NIAA Carson should host state track every year, especially if southern Nevada can’t get its act together and find a suitable place. Del Sol wasn’t the answer. Hopefully somebody will step up next year. If not, the NIAA needs to take a long and hard look at the situation. Heck, I’d trade state track for cross country and swimming in a New York heartbeat.