Girls Outdoor Track and Field Co-Captain Naima Reid ’25’s first foray into the sport was in the eighth grade, where she competed with a club team near her hometown, Zurich, Switzerland. Arriving at Andover, Reid initially ran distance events. Now, though, she primarily runs sprints events.
Reid shared that she enjoys watching her peers develop as both athletes and people. As a Co-Captain, she strives to guide her teammates on how to take on life and how to progress as athletes.
“One of my favorite parts is watching people grow and fall in love with the sport the same way I did. The things you learn from the track team translate into life and almost everything in my life I can make into a track allegory. It’s fun to be able to teach people those sorts of things and to be able to connect with them so that I am not just helping them become a better runner but navigate Andover and be a role model for them,” said Reid.
Outdoor Track and Field comprises over 100 athletes, and athletes often get closer with teammates in mutual event groups. Ela Budzinski ’28, who trains alongside Reid, commented on their bond and her cheery nature.
“I’m in the same training group as [Naima] so I’ve gotten to know her as a friend and I feel like we’ve gotten pretty close over the past few seasons, and I trust her to give me advice … personally, she encourages me a lot and when I would have a bad race, I would talk to her about it and she would keep me encouraged and not down on myself,” said Budzinski.
Before meets, according to Caitlin Ly ’27, Reid shares amusing yet inspiring motivational speeches.
“Naima’s a great captain. She’s a very supportive leader and one highlight that I really love about her is that before every meet she gives these really great motivational speeches which are funny, but they also make a lot of sense and encourage always working your hardest. She also has a great work ethic,” Ly said.
Budzinski commented on how Reid brings the team together with humor and a positive demeanor.
“She always has a smile on her face. She’s proud, but not in a bad way. She’s proud of our team and I always feel like she’s proud of me… She’s really funny, funny in a really hype way, and makes everyone laugh which definitely makes everything so much more joyful and it brings everyone together because we’re all laughing together as a team. She creates that for us,” Budzinski said.
One of Reid’s goals is to make the team a safe space for people to relax and enjoy the presence of their teammates, an escape from some of the stress of Andover.
“As a Co-Captain, my favorite ‘job’ is forming community. Whether it’s asking our coach to get ice cream after practice or taking a recovery day and making it into a team scavenger hunt, those sorts of things make us feel more like friends. It helps the team get stronger and faster but it also helps people feel like Track is a rest and an escape from some of the stress that comes from Andover,” Reid said.
Reid welcomes those questioning which sport to choose in the Winter and Spring to join Track and Field.
“Anyone who doesn’t know what sport they want to try in the Winter or Spring should definitely come over to the Track team. We are the most welcoming team on campus because there is no selection process and because we have so many coaches that are willing to help anyone regardless if they want to be recruited as a D1 athlete or just want to run a couple times a week,” said Reid.
