Lets be clear William Reed ALL TIME GREAT!!!!

Agree he was great. Didn't he go to Morehouse?

My correction thinking of another philly runner that went to tcu sorry Yes he went to Moorehouse

I ran with William. He was simply the most amazing athlete I ever knew personally. His father is also a class act and is the coach at Penn Charter.

He was not on drugs. If anything, too many coaches wanted a part of him and once he was injured, too many people trying to get him back to health.

Perhaps it was a case where his body matured much quicker than other 14 year olds. Personally, I think his confidence was shot after trying to come back from an injury at the start of his senior year as well as every single person in the Philadelphia area putting pressure on him to make the Barcelona Games in 1992.

In spite of the fact Will never made the Olympics or panned out to all the expectations put on his young shoulders, he remained a great person who is totally down to earth and sincere. Also, his story should be an example to today's running phenoms that simply running fast at a young age does not guarantee you future glory.

I like to compare William's Career Development to another runner from Philly in the 1980's. Many of you might remember Kate Fonshell. She was a very good State Class runner (borderline national class) who went to Villanova and struggled for a few years before hitting a good spot in her training. She eventually made the 1996 Olympic Team for 10000m. Kate is a good example of being a late developer and also finding the right blend of training and consistency.

I agree the Willaim Reed was outstanding in High School but "All Time Great" I'm not to sure about that. To clarify a few points that you made. Mike Marsh never ran in the 46 second range in the 400 in HS. I know because I coached Mike along with one of the best of all time Henry Thomas, 10.25, 20.4 and 45.09. Then there is Obea Moore of John Muir HS (Pasadena, CA). Obea had times of 10.4, 20.8,45.16 and 1.49 XX. Then of course there was the great sprinter out of Texas, Kelly Willie who along with Henry are the only HS runners to be ranked on the all-time HS lists in the 100,200 and 400. You can verify that by getting Jack Shepherd's HS Annnual Best Times - All Time List.

I was in HS in the Philly suburbs at the same time. The comment about all the hype and pressure on Reed was absolutely true. I don't think I remember any HS athlete in ANY sport getting as much coverage as Reed got around here.

I've also known Kate since HS, through college and beyond. The description of consistency and perseverance finally paying off are accurate for her as well. Couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

Place Athlete Name Yr Affiliation Time Pts

1 Kirani James SO Alabama 45.10 10

2 Tony McQuay SO Florida 45.14 8

3 Mike Berry FR Oregon 45.18 6

4 Demetrius Pinder SR Texas A&M 45.23 5

5 Joey Hughes JR USC 45.64 4

6 Josh Mance FR USC 45.66 3

7 Bryan Miller SR Texas A&M 45.80 2

DQ Gil Roberts JR Texas Tech

These are the results of the NCAA Div. I 400 Finals 2011.

You said that even though William Reed raqn in the 45's in High School that that would only have been an "average time" in college. Really ??? I don't think do.

Obea was good!! But William ran 46.5 at 14 in Nebraska: He is responsible for chris Nelloms being fast as hell: In that race of 14yrs old William Reed 46.5 ,Chris Nelloms 52.00. After that Chris was never the same, William Reed extended the challenge and Chris rose to the occasion! Also don't forget Clinton Davis of Steel Valley Pa., Williams problems stemmed from a broken leg and a child. That's a lot to handle at 17yrs old.

When and where did Reed and Nelloms race? seems kind of odd that they would race when Reed was 14, because Reed was 2 years ahead of Nelloms grade wise, with Reed graduating in '88 and Nelloms in '90.

Reed was a unreal track talent. It's to bad he got injured the end of his junior year. I dont recall him running any races his senior year. Can anyone verify that. I do remember him winning the Junior TAC in '87 out in Arizona, posting a 45.17 and defeating future Olympic Champ Steve Lewis (45.76 that race)

Obea Moore was great as well. His real times were 10.71, 20.77, 45.14 and 1:49.16. He ranks up there with Reed and so does Henry Thomas. Of course Darrell Robinson is there as well.

cajunkid44 wrote:

I agree the Willaim Reed was outstanding in High School but "All Time Great" I'm not to sure about that. To clarify a few points that you made. Mike Marsh never ran in the 46 second range in the 400 in HS. I know because I coached Mike along with one of the best of all time Henry Thomas, 10.25, 20.4 and 45.09. Then there is Obea Moore of John Muir HS (Pasadena, CA). Obea had times of 10.4, 20.8,45.16 and 1.49 XX. Then of course there was the great sprinter out of Texas, Kelly Willie who along with Henry are the only HS runners to be ranked on the all-time HS lists in the 100,200 and 400. You can verify that by getting Jack Shepherd's HS Annnual Best Times - All Time List.

Personally i'd put Xman on that list. He was better than all of them, just never really went after it in the post season because he'd shut it down to prepare for football. The kid broke the indoor 200 record on a flat track (i think that was his first indoor race?), and then crushed it again on a banked track...and we're talking crushed with his 20.69. He then went 45.44 in the 400 outdoors in early May with nobody to challenge him. If Xman had done any big meets you'd have seen somme crazy stuff, and probably more national records. Xman also went 46.75 as a legit freshman in HS, so he was an age phenom as well.

I Would agree with Mrr82, that Xavier Carter deserves to be on that list. Im not so sure however that he was better then Reed at 400 meters. It's a nice discussion to have. Carter's best time as a frosh was 46.95, slightly faster then Obea Moore's fastest frosh time (46.96)and behind Reed's at 46.55.

To cajunkid44- Reed without a doubt is a all-time great in high school. He has numerous class records and posted times such as 46.55 as a frosh, 45.4 as a soph and 45.17 as a junior. It's a shame that he did not get to compete his senior year because of injury. The same can be said of Thomas who missed a good deal of his senior year with a appendectomy. Obea as well hurt his hamstring and was never the same his senior year after that.

VF Runner....

I think I know who you are. Were you anchor leg on Penncrest 4 x 800 in 1987?

Chris and William are a year apart, if William hadn't been so developed 46.5@14, chris would have age group records. They raced East Coast classic and the TAC national in NEBRASKA 1984.

CHRIS BEAT WILLIAM . WILLIAMS SENIOR YEAR.

Chris and William are a year apart, if William hadn't been so developed 46.5@14, chris would have age group records. They raced East Coast classic and the TAC national in NEBRASKA 1984.

CHRIS BEAT WILLIAM . WILLIAMS SENIOR YEAR. THEY'VE RACED SINCE THEY WERE 11-12

WORLDCLASS 86

I would take Roy Martin over either of those guys. But I am Texas guy.