Jamaican sprinter Alana Reid is kicking off the Grand Slam Track in 100m/200m. And the most important thing to look out for? The competition with athletes like Brittany Brown, Melissa Jefferson, and Daryll Neita. Reid has won gold at the World U20 Championships, U20 CARIFTA Games, and others. But the first win is always special, right? At 17, the sprinter bagged a bronze in the 200 m at the World Under-20 Championships in 2022 while being a student at Hydel High School.

But who is the figure behind such talent? Let’s dive deep into Alana Reid’s coaches who have trained her. Though, Reid has trained under several coaches starting from her school days. Corey Bennett was the one who shaped Reid into track, and later Sha’Carri Richardson’s coach Dennis Mitchell, also helped her learn the nuances of running. Currently, Reid is training under Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson ever since she moved to the University of Arkansas Hurdles Mechanics group.

Meet Alana Reid’s current coach, Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson.

Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson, the 2013 USATF (United States of America Track & Field) National Coach of the Year, joined the Arkansas Razorbacks program in 2023 as a member of the women’s squad. Lawrence started out as an assistant coach back in 2002 at Southern Illinois. His impact on athletes? It can be seen from the fact that several mentees of Johnson became Olympians and World Champions.

One of the top athletes coached by Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson is Kristi Castlin, Brianna Rollins McNeal, and Dalilah Muhammad. Before joining Johnson’s collegiate coaching, he worked for five years as Director of Track and Field at Clemson from 2008 to 2013. Along with that, Alana Reid’s coach worked as an assistant for 4 long years at the Virginia Tech program from the 2007-08 season.

Prior to this, Johnson coached women’s sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers during the fall of 2024. In between, he even served as an assistant coach at the Cal State Northridge program, and also from 2017 to 2019, he was an interim head coach for both the men’s and women’s programs.

Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson’s career highlights and achievements

Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson won numerous awards for his flawless coaching abilities, including USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024. Additionally, from 2010 to 2012, Johnson was the USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor Southeast Region Women’s Coach of the Year. But it wasn’t just that. Apart from being an outstanding athlete, Johnson guided his squad to numerous noteworthy triumphs. Johnson was a sprinter for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the past. He was a member of the 1998 NCAA Outdoor National Championship squad and helped lead the SEC to four titles.

Dennis Mitchell: Alana Reid’s ex-coach

Alana Reid is all set to compete at one of the highly anticipated Grand Slam tracks, having gotten coaching from different coaches at all levels. One of them is Dennis Mitchell, a former Olympic bronze medalist. Owing to Mitchell’s competitive spirit and relay expertise, he won the NCAA 200 m title in 1989 while representing Florida University. During his competitive days, he specialized in 100m, winning bronze and gold in the 4×100 m relay at the Barcelona Olympics with a record time of 37.40.

Following so many accolades and after retiring from the competitive field, he dedicated his hard work to mentoring the next generation. Athletes like Alana Reid and Sha’Carri Richardson are some of them, whom he trained at Star Athletics Track Club in Florida. However, despite the world-class training environment, Reid couldn’t thrive in Florida due to cultural differences, as she was the only Jamaican. That sense of isolation ultimately drove her away from Mitchell, seeking out a more familiar and supportive atmosphere at the University of Arkansas.

Why did Alana Reid choose Arkansas? A closer look at her new training base

Alana Reid, who is a bright track and field star of Jamaica, decided to join the University of Arkansas due to her desire for connection and cultural belonging, as Arkansas gave her a familiar environment. But let’s be real; it’s not the environment that is helping her be calm at the University of Arkansas, but fellow Jamaican athletes such as Ackera Nugent and Nickisha Pryce also played a significant role in her move.

As Alana Reid moves from youth dominance into the senior ranks, her decision to join Hurdle Mechanics comes at a pivotal moment in her career. With the support of her fellow compatriots and the mentorship of a renowned coach, Reid received both the shoulder-to-cry-on effect and the world-class facilities she needed. Her new base in Arkansas gave her everything that an athlete needs but also a cultural atmosphere that fuels the sort of confidence and ambition she needs to enter the next stage of her sprinting career.

She looked for a training camp where she would have a greater sense of community, which she got at Arkansas. Another reason for her to leave Florida was to get coaching under renowned sprint coach Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson. Only time will tell how her decision to join Arkansas would unfold!