TRACK NOTEBOOK: RIO MESA STAR OUT FOR SEASON.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Lauren Reid looked bound for the state meet in the long jump last season before a hamstring injury occurred prior to the postseason meet schedule.

She thought that was frustrating, but she didn't yet know frustration. This year, the Rio Mesa High of Oxnard junior will never get near a sand pit.

Reid tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee playing volleyball in October. Rehabilitation will take six to 12 months.

``I was in a hitting drill before a game and I just came down wrong,'' Reid said. ``It's frustrating that it will keep me out of track, which is my main sport. It's hard but I'm trying to stay positive about it. There's nothing more I can do, really.''

Reid was expected to be the area's best long jumper. Last year, she cleared 19 feet, 4 1/4 inches.

Reid's older brother Phillip was state champion in the 1,600 meters in 2003. Lauren showed the potential to reach the same plateau in her event as a freshman, but after two injury-plagued seasons, she will have to wait for her senior year to give it a shot.

``Poor thing, she just seems snake-bitten,'' Rio Mesa coach Brian FitzGerald said.

``Hopefully she'll be able to participate during the last part of the season in some limited role.''

Reid is jogging and could recover enough to participate in relays by the end of April. She has no hope of jumping because the motion of leaping and landing puts too much pressure on the knee ligaments.

--Taft building: In City Section boys' track and field, Taft of Woodland Hills has always been USC to Birmingham's UCLA.

Taft is known for regularly producing some of the area's best sprinters, high-end athletes with state finals potential.

But Birmingham puts together the whole package, a complete team capable of winning the City Section team title.

Second-year Taft coach Brian Godsey is trying to change Taft's reputation. After surprising Birmingham in a West Valley League dual meet last season, Godsey is shooting for a City championship.

``That's what we're trying to build toward,'' Godsey said. ``We've always had the top-end athletes. We're trying to surround those guys with the additional help they need.''

Taft's turnout numbers are up this year, allowing it to have tryouts for the first time in years rather than accepting anyone who wanted in. The top athletes remain, with Jamere Holland and Elijah Wells expected to reach the state meet in the sprints.

Jose Rodriguez in the distance races and Ronnel Ramsey in the throws will give Taft points in events the school doesn't usually excel. A key to Taft's City aspirations could be if Godsey can lure any of the school's fine basketball players to learn the jumps.

--Radnoti out: Thousand Oaks pole vaulter Tom Radnoti, the top athlete in the area returning in his event, pulled his hamstring in practice and is expected to miss two to three weeks. The hamstring is a tricky injury for a pole vaulter because the explosive last step requires it to be fit. Radnoti will not be able to return if he is less than 100 percent.

Matthew Kredell, [phone]

matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Rio Mesa junior long jumper Lauren Reid will not jump again this season after injuring herself playing volleyball.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(2) REID