Julian Reid, competing in the triple jump at the National Senior Champion-ships in June. - file

AFTER an outstanding season at Texas A&M University in both the long and triple jumps, former Wolmer's Boys' School jumper Julian Reid booked his ticket to next week Berlin World Championships after winning the triple jump at the National Senior Championships in June.

Reid, who will celebrate his 21st birthday in Septem-ber, actually finished second behind Alain Bailey in the long jump with 8.18 metres but it was his effort all season in the triple jump which helped him to book his ticket to Berlin.

While he won at the National Championships with 16.19 metres, he had already attained the World Championships 'B' standard of 16.65 metres on several occasions during the season with his best legal mark of 16.98 metres at the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He actually finished second at that meet with a wind-aided 17.10 metres.

With each country allowed to take an athlete with a 'B' standard if the 'A' standard is not achieved, he was selected in this event although he could have competed also in the long jump ahead of third-place finisher Nicholas Gordon. The national selectors, however, allowed him to concentrate on one event with Gordon getting the nod in the long jump.

Reid is a very versatile athlete who has competed in both horizontal jumps along with the high jump for his former high school. He will not be among the top contenders in Berlin. The experience, however, will be great for him and this should give him added motivation in the future as he tries to become the first Jamaican male to win a medal in this event at a major championships.

He has represented his country at the junior level competing at the Carifta Games, World Youth and Junior Pan Am. In Brazil, two years ago at the Pan Am Junior Championships, he was second in the long jump while finishing sixth in the triple jump.

Competition in this event at Berlin will be at a very high standard. Nelson Evora of Portugal with 17.66m, along with a trio of Cubans Yoandris Betanzos (17.65), Alexis Copello (17.65m) and Arnie Girat (17.72), is the world leader in the event.

Reid, who broke a 14 year-old record at Texas A&M this season when he did 16.72 metres at the Texas Relays, could use this opportunity to launch what is expected to be a successful career in this event.