Longhorn Legends: Track & Field Hall of Honor inductee Suziann Reid

Greilan Oliver, Texas Media Relations

"Beverly Kearney once told me that it doesn't matter whether you're a freshman or a senior, nobody can beat you if you put in the work."

This was the philosophy of former University of Texas student-athlete, Suziann Reid. And for all the work she put into the Texas women's track and field program, Reid is among five decorated Longhorns that will be inducted into the UT Women's Athletics Hall of Honor in November.

From the moment Reid set foot on the Forty Acres in 1995, she made strides of achievement. She went from being one of the most heavily recruited athletes in high school to becoming a 17-time All-American in collegiate track and field. While breaking over 14 school records, she also became a 10-time national champion and nine-time Big 12 Conference champion.

Her journey with track and field began in the first grade. Inspired by her dad who was a distance runner and her mom who was a sprinter, Reid quickly developed a passion for running.

While running at the University of Texas, Reid encountered many challenges. From pressures to excel on the field and in class to maturing as a woman, Reid had to find a way to adapt to a school that was not only several miles away from her home state of Maryland, but also to the unique culture of the University of Texas. Her transition was not the smoothest, but Reid managed to pull everything together and ultimately became a positive figure for all young women to look up to and imitate.

"Words can not even express my experiences at The University of Texas," Reid said. "It was nothing like I've ever experienced before."

For Reid, one of the biggest reasons why she was able to achieve at Texas was Coach Kearney. Reid had always been a great athlete, but it wasn't until she made it to Texas and met Kearney that she was able to recognize her full potential as an educated woman and become more than just an athlete.

"Coach Kearney was able to reach way down in me and bring out some type of leadership role that I never knew I had," Reid said. "She was one of the main people who turned me into the Suziann Reid that I am today."

It was this leadership role that led Reid to feel "empowered" on the track. She became the most dominant quarter miler in the nation who gained All-America honors in three events (200-meter, 400-meter, 4 x 400-meter relay). Today she still owns seven of the top 10 outdoor 400-meter and four of the top 10 indoor 400-meter performances in UT history.

In addition, Reid used inspiration from Kearney to push her teammates to become national champions. In 1998 and 1999, Reid led the Longhorns to two indoor and two outdoor NCAA team championships. She ended up with five NCAA titles from her participation with a dominating, record-setting Texas women's 4x400 relay team.

Reid's run at UT was an amazing one indeed, but her experiences outside of collegiate competition tell an even better story. In 1996, she participated in the World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia where she finished second in the 400 meters. This led her to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Atlanta where she advanced to the semifinals of the 400-meters. As the leadoff runner, Reid helped the USA 4 x 400-meter relay earn a silver medal at the 1999 World Championship. She won USA National indoor titles in the 400 meters in 2000 and 2001 and an outdoor title in 2001. She also won gold at the Millrose Games and Goodwill Games in 2001

"Track and field helped me to become strong enough to get over the hurdles in life," Reid said.

Upon leaving the University of Texas, she returned to her home state of Maryland where she now helps run two family businesses. During her free time, she does a lot of reading and writing. She has written over 20 journals and is in the process of writing two books, one will appeal to young student-athletes and the other is aimed at the parents of young student-athletes.

Because of her obligations in Maryland, she has not been able to visit Texas very often, so she is looking forward to coming back for the ceremony. She will be accompanied by her family and friends in November to accept the award.

"I felt so honored when I found out," said Reid acknowledging the Hall of Honor.

Throughout her illustrious career, she received many awards for her accomplishments in track and field. She was named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Silver Anniversary Team and was recognized in 2006 as the NCAA's premier 400-meter runner and one of the top student-athletes in the 25-year history of the NCAA women's track and field. As a senior, she earned the Honda Broderick Award as the top collegiate women's track and field athlete. In addition, she was named USTFCCCA Indoor Athlete of the Year and Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year during the 1998-99 school year.

Despite her many awards, Reid feels like none of the others outshine the Hall of Honor. Although she is very appreciative of the many accolades she has received, she describes this one as the icing on the cake.

Reid showed the character of a true champion by not only excelling on the track, but in life. She set the example of what a student-athlete is by always putting her school work first. Now she will be awarded for being one of the greatest women to ever run track at Texas.