Skip to main content

Carson sprinter Reign Redmond is SBLive’s LA City Section Athlete of the Year

Redmond won the 100 meter dash at the CIF State championship meet in 11.56. seconds.

Welcome to a continuing tradition at SBLive California – honoring the male and female athletes of the year in every CIF Section.

Because the SBLive crew gets so immersed in specific sports seasons, it is nice to take a step back to pick a Section honor on a broader scale.

The criteria isn’t too expansive: The starting point is finding athletes who are all-league/all-state performers. Totality of career is also a factor as is winning. Administrator/coach/fan recommendation plays a role as well.

Enjoy as we honor some of California's top athletes!

Just a second into the CIF State championship 100 meter dash race, Carson junior Reign Redmond broke one of the unwritten rules of sprinting. 

"People always say that you're not supposed to look at the runner next to you, but for me it's just instinct and I knew when I got off the blocks I had a bad start," she said. 

A day after running the fastest time in the state in the 100 meter prelims, Redmond thought she was in trouble in the final. 

"I was only on my first step and I could see other runners two steps ahead" she said.

Somehow, Redmond battled back and managed to cross the finish line in line with Serra sprinter Brazil Neal for a photo finish. When the names lit up on the board, the letters read: "Redmond 11:56, Neal 11:57."

Redmond couldn't believe it. 

"I was ecstatic almost to the point of tears," she said. "I didn't know if I could pull though and get it to the last second. I was just so relieved and so happy."

The 11.56 may have been slower than the 11.45 time that Redmond had run the day before to set a new City Section record, but she didn't care. The 11.56 won her a state championship and it also secured the LA City Section Female Athlete of the Year honor. 

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Redmond comes from Carson High School royalty. Her father, JR, played football at Carson before going on to play in the NFL where we won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in 2002. 

Despite having a big name dad, Reign doesn't feel like she's in her father's shadow at school. 

"It's pretty cool because people know my dad, but they don't speak about him a ton," she said. "So I'm having my own experience and not behind him."

BIO

School: Carson

Sport: Track & Field

Next step: TBD

Season highlights and accolades: CIF State champion in the 100 meter dash (11.56), new LA City Section 100 meter dash all-time record holder (11.45), fastest 100 time in California this season, Carson High School Athlete of the Year, Female Track Athlete of the Year

GPA: 3.66

PAST SBLIVE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

2020-21

Central Section Male: Nate Johnson, Clovis

Central Section Female: Jazmine Soto, Strathmore

Central Coast Section Male: Mikey Mitchell Jr., Archbishop Mitty

Central Coast Section Female: Jessica Oakland, St. Francis

LA City Section Male: Dylan Kordic, San Pedro

LA City Section Female: Jillian Kelly, El Camino Real

North Coast Section Male: Nico Torrez, De La Salle

North Coast Section Female: Natalie Pasco, San Ramon Valley

Sac-Joaquin Section Male: Jadyn Marshall, Stockton St. Mary's

Sac-Joaquin Section Female: Jzaniya Harriel, Antelope

San Diego Section Male: Nick Herrmann, Torrey Pines

San Diego Section Female: Elise Miller, San Pasqual

Southern Section Male: Thomas Southey, Mira Costa

Southern Section Female: Alyssa Thompson, Harvard-Westlake

2021-22 Northern Section Athlete of the Year: Riley Wickum, Sutter