Alex Reed finds himself in an unfamiliar position entering this weekend’s Class 6-1A state track and field championships at Wichita’s Cessna Stadium.
The two-time 5A state champion in the 400-meter dash, the Great Bend High School senior was upset by Wichita West’s Mikel Anderson in his specialty at the regional meet last Friday at Friends University in Wichita.
Anderson (48.96 seconds) and Reed (49.21) finished 1-2 in the regional pecking order.
Thus, starting today in the preliminaries, Reed has turned from the hunted into the hunter.
“(Today), I’m just going to run my race like I always do and make the finals,” said Reed, a Wichita State University signee. “On Saturday, I’m going to go after him and take him.”
Reed chatted with Anderson after he lost to the unheralded speedster.
“He just told me, ‘I didn’t think I was that good,’ and I said, ‘Well dude, you have a pretty good kick at the end.’”
Reed won the 200 at state during his sophomore year. He finished second to Valley Center speedster Joe Fisher at the regional meet last week, clocking 22.57 seconds.
Last year at state in the 400, Reed won the gold, defeating LaRay Young of Schlagle, out of Kansas City, Kan.
Reed’s winning time was 49.36 last year, while Young, then a sophomore, clocked 50.37.
Despite coming of major knee surgery just short of seven months ago, Reed has the best time in the state in 5A this season, clocking 48.59. Anderson ranks No. 2 with his 48.96 and Young is third at 49.03.
“I want to win, so I’m going to do everything I can,” Reed said.
Needless to say, the 400 ought to be a dandy.