Reynolds sees redemption 25 years later
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Ryan Reynolds (left) narrowly beats out Clarinda at the Raider Relays in the 4×400 back in 1997, the same meet that Reynolds was disqualified from the 400 meter hurdles after falling.
Ryce Reynolds, son of Ryan Reynolds, clears a hurdle in the 400 meter hurdle event at the 2022 Raider Relays, 25 years after his father ran in the same race.
During the Raider Relays, the Mount Ayr Raiders saw Ryce Reynolds dominating the track, much like he has all season, specifically when he runs the 400 meter hurdles.
Reynolds, a sophomore, set the school record in the 400 meter hurdle in his first attempt running the event. His second time ever running the event, he was even faster, followed by another record setting performance in his third time running the event, while also hitting the Drake University Blue Standard to qualify for the Drake Relays that happened last week.
Mount Ayr head coach, Brad Elliott, gave Reynolds a few meets off before throwing Reynolds back onto the track with the hurdles for extra practice before the Relays on April 29.
It was a special moment for Reynolds and his dad Ryan Reynolds.
Rewind 25 years to 1997 and Ryan Reynolds was on the track, running the 400 meter hurdles, his fourth time ever.
Reynolds took off at the gun and led all runners as he was rounding the final corner. Reynolds was tripped up, fell and rolled into another lane which disqualified him from the race and Murray’s Joe Shields won the event and set a new meet record, a record that would have been Reynolds had he not tripped.
Take us back to present day and Ryan Reynolds son Ryce, was preparing for his fourth ever 400 meter hurdle event, just like his dad had done back in 1997.
“We had our fingers crossed all day that he wouldn’t fall like I did,” said Ryan Reynolds. “What kind of family curse would that be?”
Ryce shot out of the blocks at the gun and took an early lead. His form looked great and he extended his lead well ahead of the competition.
Ryce came around the final corner with the record in sight and cleared the hurdle. There was still 100 meters to go.
Ryce crossed the finish line with a time of 54.58 which set a new meet record, putting the record in the Reynolds name, 25 years after his dad came about 50 meters from the record of his own.
“It’s pretty awesome. I knew coming in that it was still going to be there and it was a bit of motivation,” said Ryce Reynolds. “I didn’t even realize it was his fourth time running and my fourth time running, that’s pretty cool.”
After the event, Ryce was embraced by his dad and after talked about just how much that meant to him.
“He’s amazing when it comes to track. He was a big track junkie in high school and middle school,” said Reynolds. “He’s been there for me and definitely helped me out with a lot of stuff.”
