UK-based Irish sprinter Leon Reid is refusing to live on past glories as he prepares for another Commonwealth Games four years on from his 200m bronze in Gold Coast.

For the Birchfield Harrier, who will compete over 100m and 200m on Tuesday (July 5) in Cork, his surprise third there has remained a career highlight. However, as he goes into his third Commonwealth Games, he is determined to look forwards.

Speaking after clocking a wind-aided 20.71 to win at the National Athletics League match at Woodford last weekend, Reid said of his hopes for Birmingham: “I always feel confident. I know I had bronze last time but this is a whole new competition. You can’t just live on the past. That’s how you get complacent, so I’m going as a fresh newbie and I’m just going to try and tear it up as much as I can.”

In Cork, Reid will be again testing out his fitness after missing five weeks of racing until last weekend due to a back injury. He had been nursing the issue with his L5 vertebrae all year until it finally “popped” on him just after the Belfast International in May. 

The 27-year-old was pleased to be again able to represent his club last weekend and believes more top athletes should involve themselves in league athletics.

After his 200m win and before helping Birchfield to a 4x100m and 4x400m second place, he said: “It’s a shame that a lot more people don’t do it. I know a lot of people that think that at Birchfield we get paid, but we don’t. I know some people from some clubs do get paid but no one on our team does. 

“You’ve got people out here grinding for their club and it would be a lot easier if there were a lot more legs here. If we could get some music going, that would be nice, create a bit more of an atmosphere. I think the league’s well, it’s strong. 

“If you want to do nationals, I think you’ve got to at least run for your club once. You can’t just claim a club and then not do anything with them or help them.”