Zuri Reid’s On Fire For Track and Field

Zuri Reid was born on April 11, 2001 and lives in St. Louis Missouri. Her parents, both being exceptional track athletes,  who first noticed Zuri’s speed, stride and competiveness when she would race against her older cousins…and win! Her parents began to take her to the local high school track to workout with them. They were amazed (and humbled) that at just 4 years old she had the ability to keep up with us.  She joined the University City Xplosion Track and Field Team in 2006 after just turning 6 years old.

In 2007 she ran her first 800m and was knocked down by an opponent. Zuri fell to the ground and was spiked on the thigh by another runner. There seemed to be a hush over the track as Zuri sat on the track and cried hysterically. Her father walked over to pick her up and told her to finish the race, and she did bleeding leg and while nearly catching all the girls who had passed her.  The audience applauded loudly as Zuri finished the race strongly with her leg dripping with blood and a new 800m runner was born!  Zuri ended her first AAU season placing 5^th during the district championship amongst runners much older.

Deeply disappointed about her performance, Zuri was determined to do better during the Missouri Show-Me State Games. At those games Zuri received 4 gold medals in the 100m, 400m, 800m and Long Jump while breaking records in the 400m and 800m and missing breaking the long jump record by 1 inch.

2008 was an even better good year for Zuri, her dad moved from being a parent to being a coach of the primary girls. Zuri always treated each practice as a race day and was willing to push herself; later Zuri was moved from training with Primary to training with the High school athletes part-time.  This training allowed Zuri to dominate the 800m and long jump during the local 2008 AAU season.

As Zuri prepared for the Jr. Olympics her parents were unsure of how she would perform after reviewing her #10 seed designation on eliteyouth.com . Her dad knew that unless Zuri trims at least 10 seconds off her personal best at 2:55 if she was even going to place.  While preparing for the JO’s  she was noticed by Ray Armstead, 1984 Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400m relay, and trainer of many of Missouri’s elite athletes who took a personal interest in Zuri’s development and was instrumental in boosting Zuri’s confidence and race day skills.

On the night before her JO race, we were in the hotel room waiting to get in the shower after Zuri. After she got out of the shower her mother when in the bathroom and came out in tears. She said,” Look what Zuri wrote on the mirror!” Her dad and grandmother ran in and on the mirror was written “Zuri Reid 800m and 4×100″ Needless to say they were shocked!  The best surprise of all was that Zuri did it! 

On and off the track Zuri is becoming a leader  serving as 2^nd grade student council representative at Jackson Park Elementary; she is a member of the academic Olympic team, in her schools gifted program and is a Brownie. Her goal is to break the Primary 800m record, win the 400m and the 4x100m during the 2009 Jr. Olympics. I think she just might do it…

Thanks to the Reid family  for sharing the great pictures and story highlights

Until Next Time,

TrackMom