I saw Reuben Reina mentioned on another thread. I was pretty young back when he was really tearing it up and was hoping someone would give some insight or memories of his career. I know he did a lot of cross stuff, but I was wondering what his 5000 PR was. I was thinking about how he was so good and then got to wondering how he would stack up with the current crop at 5k.
Not to reply to myself, but I will for those interested. Just cut and pasted this froma listing of Arkansas T and F Hall of Fame:
Reuben Reina
Awards: ‘92 USA Olympic Team - Barcelona Games 5000m; Eight-Time All-American in Track & Cross Country; Seven Time SWC (Southwest Conference) Champion; Two-Time NCAA National 3000m Indoor Champion - ‘90, ‘91; ‘91 USA World Championships Team - Tokyo 5000m; ‘92 Indoor Grand Prix Champion 3000m; ‘93 Olympic Festival Champion 5000m; ‘94 Indoor Grand Prix Champion 3000m; Four-Time Millrose Games 3000m Champ - ‘91, ‘92, ‘94, ‘95; ‘94 USA National Cross Country Champion; ‘95 USA National Cross Country Runner-up; ‘96 USA National Cross Country Champion; Arkansas Road 5K Record Holder 13:26 - July 5, 1992; Arkansas Road 10K Record Holder 28:57 - October 1990. Personal Bests: 800m - 1:52.1 - High School - April 1985; 1500m - 3:40.81 - Belfast, N. Ireland - July 16, 1990; 1 Mile - 3:57.08 - Fayetteville, Arkansas - January 25, 1991; 3000m - 7:43.02 - Nice, France - July 15, 1991; 5000m - 13:24.78 - Oslo, Norway - July 6, 1991; 10,000m - 28:31 - Mt. SAC Relays - April 1997.
Reina was a damn good runner with nice career, but I feel never hit his potential. As a collegiate he was very impressive. 3:57.0 indoors and NCAA champ in the 3000 ( in a very impressive 600 meter kick finish).
Obviously a High School phenom-Balboa Course record to this day (20 years later) and also ran 3:46 for 1500.
Had his ups and downs early on in college but rebounded his junior and senior year to be among the very best collegiates.
He ran low-mid 13:20 5000 at the time when that was among the best in the country before only Kennedy went that fast ( early-mid 90's -"The Weak Era")
I remember being in a shoe store talking to a young salesman who was a 14:25 D2 runner and he was making fun of Reina. They had a poster on the wall of the US Cross Championship Reina won. He was talking about the 96 Oly trials when Reina was the only other guy to cover Kennedy's big move early in the race, and he faded to last place. I had to remind the kid that Reina was a hell of a runner and maybe that's all you know him for, that one race. But he had a lot of accomplishments.
plus, he lived down the street from falcon.
i think he is the coach for xc/distance at springdale high school now. kinda cool for me b/c my dad had the school record in the 800 there back in the day. and attempted to run the first xc race at springdale.
Reuben won the class 5A mile and 2 mile as a soph, jr, and sr. in high school. won the state cross country champion as a sr. and the national cross country champion as a sr. So, he had 7 shapes of Texas and a US shape on his letterman jacket.
Pretty impressive.
Then at Arky, was a national champ and Olympian. Not shabby.
His son(same name) was at the new gen track and field camp(see vid). Also committed to Arkansas(1:54, 4:07, 8:58) racing at brooks today.
And the elder still has the Foot locker course record. Its been 35 years
I remember being in a shoe store talking to a young salesman who was a 14:25 D2 runner and he was making fun of Reina. They had a poster on the wall of the US Cross Championship Reina won. He was talking about the 96 Oly trials when Reina was the only other guy to cover Kennedy's big move early in the race, and he faded to last place. I had to remind the kid that Reina was a hell of a runner and maybe that's all you know him for, that one race. But he had a lot of accomplishments.
Good Lord!!! You just described half the people posting on this message board!!!
Charles Barkely wrote:
I saw Reuben Reina mentioned on another thread. I was pretty young back when he was really tearing it up and was hoping someone would give some insight or memories of his career. I know he did a lot of cross stuff, but I was wondering what his 5000 PR was. I was thinking about how he was so good and then got to wondering how he would stack up with the current crop at 5k.
One of the all-time great guys in the sport.
High School, College, and Pro.
Charles Barkely wrote:
I saw Reuben Reina mentioned on another thread. I was pretty young back when he was really tearing it up and was hoping someone would give some insight or memories of his career. I know he did a lot of cross stuff, but I was wondering what his 5000 PR was. I was thinking about how he was so good and then got to wondering how he would stack up with the current crop at 5k.
He still holds the Footlocker course record in San Diego back in 1986…,,,,,,and now there is another!!
Hejendo76 wrote:His son(same name) was at the new gen track and field camp(see vid). Also committed to Arkansas(1:54, 4:07, 8:58) racing at brooks today.
His son ran very well yesterday at the Brooks PR meet. Reuben senior was there watching him run. He still looks fit for his age (53).
Passing the torch wrote:
Hejendo76 wrote:His son(same name) was at the new gen track and field camp(see vid). Also committed to Arkansas(1:54, 4:07, 8:58) racing at brooks today.
His son ran very well yesterday at the Brooks PR meet. Reuben senior was there watching him run. He still looks fit for his age (53).
Exactly how many Reina's ran for Arkansas? Please detail.
Thanks.
mordechai wrote:
Passing the torch wrote:
His son ran very well yesterday at the Brooks PR meet. Reuben senior was there watching him run. He still looks fit for his age (53).
Exactly how many Reina's ran for Arkansas? Please detail.
Thanks.
Reuben, Randy, and Roland.
Aouita 84 wrote:
mordechai wrote:
Exactly how many Reina's ran for Arkansas? Please detail.
Thanks.
Reuben, Randy, and Roland.
Add Valerie (Reubens daughter) and Rio (Randy's son) to that .. and now Reuben Jr