Reid targets Devonport classic

DISTANCE running star Archie Reid is making another trek to Tasmania this weekend for the ten-kilometre event at Devonport’s Fun Run on Sunday.

The 20-year-old from Moama has enjoyed great rewards in Tasmania in recent years.

Reid’s success and the potential he has shown at cross-country, road or track racing earned a scholarship and the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year across 2020 and 2021.

A high for Reid in 2021 was fifth in the Launceston 10- kilometre in a time of 29:22.

“It will be my first-time racing at Devonport,” the South Bendigo Athletics Club member said.

In the lead-up to Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year presentation, Reid won the 10- kilometre in the Carman’s Fun Run at Elsternwick.

Since then he clocked a time of 33:19 to win the 10- kilometre in the Bendigo Ford-sponsored Bendigo Fun Run

Two days after the Bendigo Fun Run and Reid was back on the track to contest the B-final of the 5000-metre at the Box Hill Burn.

Reid and training partner Nathan Stoate ran times of 14:18.66 and 14:18.53 to be eighth and seventh.

They were under the qualifying mark of 14:25 for the 5000-metre at the Australian track and field championships to be run from 26 March to 3 April in Sydney.

The Box Hill Burn was run a day after entries for the nationals closed.

Reid has lodged a late entry for the titles, but is awaiting confirmation from Athletics Victoria as to whether he will be able to compete at Sydney’s Olympic Park.

“To race at nationals would be fantastic, but if not able to then my focus would be on the Run For The Kids event on April 3,” Reid said.

The Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund was first awarded in 1982-83 to Echuca athlete Malcolm Norwood.

Tim Driesen, Lachlan McIntosh, Josh Pickthall, Blake Pryse and Lucas Tickell are other top athletes on the Trust Fund honour board.