Birchfield Harriers' Reid is ready to use his Bolt from the blue

The new Birchfield Harrier sprinter will use his time at the Alexander Stadium putting into practice tips from Usain Bolt.

Reid spent a month of his winter training at the infamous Racers Track club in Jamaica in December, mixing with Olympic champion Bolt and London 2012 100m and 200m silver medallist Yohan Blake.

The Jamaican speed kings were on hand to offer their support and advice and Reid is ready to use it.

"Training at the Racers Track club really was the best Christmas present an athlete could ask for," said the 200m runner. "Then topping it off by meeting both Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake was just incredible.

"They were so helpful and friendly, giving me tips in the gym and for big races to be mentally switched on at all times but still being able to have fun."

The 19-year-old, part of British Athletics' World Class Podium Potential funding scheme, is seen as a potential finalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

And having experienced champions abroad the Harrier is keen to learn from champions closer to home.

Olympic relay medallist Mark Lewis-Francis is back at the Alexander Stadium and it is relationship that excites Reid and he believes can benefit his future.

He said: "Mark Lewis-Francis to me has always been someone I want to race and I will definitely be picking his brain when I can. I still have a lot to learn only being in my fourth year of athletics and I still class myself as a beginner but if Mark doesn't mind I would love to ask him questions.

"Joining Birchfield has given me a lot of confidence to do well, having such a big team wanting your name on the starting line up is incredible especially having fellow club athletes as Danny Talbot.

"I feel I can push myself beyond and above with this team, they have made me feel welcome to the team and i can't wait to start showing my appreciation on the track."

Reid claimed silver at last year's European Junior Championships in Rieti and is now targeting the summer's Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Reid will represent Northern Ireland at the Games having made the switch with his club but also his country.

Reid explained: "My switch to Northern Ireland was a family made decision.

"While I was out at the championships, my brother suddenly passed away and it opened my eyes I didn't really know any of my Irish family.

"After speaking to them at the funeral, it came around that I could run for Northern Ireland as my mum was born there.

"I'm up for the challenge as always and want to thank everyone from Northern Ireland and team England who have supported my move."

So with his new club and country for this summer season, is it a case of it being too soon for the youngster or an ambition that could be a reality come late July?

"I would love to run at the Commonwealth Games, in front of 80,000 people at the Emirates Stadium, I really think it could be a massive stepping stone in my career," he said. "The standard I need to qualify is 20.80 seconds and I honestly believe that's well in my reach having run 20.62 last summer."

For someone with such a massive future ahead it is clear Reid is level headed and holds a burning passion for his sport. With such strong focus and ambition on the challenge ahead to become a world-class athlete, the sprinter is clear on what he wants to achieve.

Reid said: "My aims for my career are simple; to run fast and win medals. It's not about putting down times on paper and saying I'm going to run this and that, I want to run fast, faster than I ever have done before so I'm excited for that.

"Anything can happen when you're on the start line so there's no point in worrying about the past when you can create the future."

By Charlie Gibson