North Gaston's Reid chases elusive state track title

Although North Gaston’s Maleena Reid has enjoyed a solid career at the state track and field championships, a state title has proved elusive.

The senior gets one last chance Friday.

Reid headlines a long list of Gaston County athletes who qualified for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state track and field championships Friday in Greensboro.

Fresh off regional titles in the 100 and 200 meters, Reid feels confident competing against the state’s best athletes.

“I’m a lot more confident than I have been in the last three years,” Reid said. “I know I’ve worked hard, and I know that God is going to be with me.”

The UNC Wilmington signee is no stranger to Friday's site, N.C. A&T State University’s Irwin Belk Track. She’s competed there in the 3A state championships the past three years, turning in top-four finishes each time.

Last year, she placed second in the 200 meters behind county rival Stormy Kendrick of Forestview, who now runs for Clemson. Reid also placed fourth in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump. In 2008, Reid placed fourth in the 100 meters and ran legs for North Gaston’s fourth-place 800-meter and 10th-place 400-meter relay teams. As a freshman in 2007, she chose the state meet over the prom and placed third in the 100 and 200 meters.

Three years later, she’s aiming for two spots higher in each event. Reid is seeded second in the 100 and third in the 200.

Reid is one of six individual regional champions who will represent Gaston County Friday. The others are Ashbrook’s Destinie Sykes (300 hurdles), Forestview’s Catherine Crawford (400 meters) and Forestview’s Tatyana Brewton (100 hurdles) on the girls’ side, and South Point’s Justus Watkins (long jump) and Forestview’s Dominique Breedlove (300 hurdles) on the boys’ side. Forestview’s girls’ 400-meter relay team also won the regional title.

In all, sixteen individuals and 11 relay teams from Gaston County qualified for Friday's meet. The top four regional finishers in each event made the cut.

Action in the field events will begin at 10 a.m. and running events will start at 11 a.m.

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.

Local 3A state track and field qualifiers

Girls

Maleena Reid, North Gaston — 100 meters, 200 meters

Catherine Crawford, Forestview — 400 meters, 200 meters, 100 meters

Tiana Ondayog, Ashbrook — 200 meters

Tatyana Brewton, Forestview —100 hurdles, triple jump

Janay Brickey, Ashbrook —100 hurdles, high jump

Destinie Sykes, Ashbrook — 300 hurdles, 100 hurdles

Forestview — 400 relay

Hunter Huss — 400 relay, 800 relay

Ashbrook — 800 relay, 1600 relay, 3200 relay

Jackie Reid, North Gaston — high jump

Alexa McCullen, Forestview —pole vault

Dyasia Robinson, Hunter Huss — discus

Boys

Tyler Humphries, North Gaston — 800 meters

James East, Forestview — 1600 meters

Bradley Allf, Forestview — 3200 meters

Dominique Breedlove, Forestview — 300 hurdles, 110 hurdles

Hunter Huss — 400 relay

Kings Mountain — 800 relay, 400 relay, 1600 relay

Forestview — 3200 relay

Justus Watkins, South Point — long jump

Terrance Young, Kings Mountain — triple jump

Cameron Harris, Kings Mountain — shot put, discus