ST. MORITZ, Switzerland – University of Maine alumnus Jimmy Reed '14, has been selected as a replacement athlete for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team, USA Bobsled and Skeleton (USABS) announced on Monday. Reed will travel and could possibly compete with the team in PyeongChang, South Korea in the upcoming Olympic Winter Games.
 
Reed is one of two replacement athletes on the U.S. Bobsled team. He can substitute for competing athletes during training runs, and is eligible to compete in the event of an injury or illness. Along with the two replacement athletes, a total of 14 bobsled athletes will travel to PyeongChang to represent the United States.
 
A former standout track and field athlete at UMaine, Reed ran hurdles for the Black Bears from 2009-2014. He still holds school records in the 55 meter hurdles (Indoor, 7.41), 60 meter hurdles (Indoor, 7.95), and the 110 meter hurdles (Outdoor, 14.23). 
 
UMaine track and field head coach Mark Lech is excited for Reed, and his opportunity to represent the United States.  
 
"Jimmy was always a talent and great competitor for our track team," said Lech "It's nice to see that talent and hard work can carry over to another sport. He has been training hard for a long time, and it is great to see all that hard work pay off at the highest level."
 
The Olympic bobsled and skeleton events are held in a four-heat format over two days of racing with two heats on each day. The two-man competition will take place Feb. 18-19, and four-man races Feb. 24-25.
 
A 2014 graduate, Reed holds a degree in exercise science.
 
For more information and coverage of the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team, visit teamusa.org, and nbcolympics.com
 
-UMaine-