July 28, 2026

From his days of believing that track was his secondary sport to now competing on the national level, Reyte Rash Class of ’19, has had his eye on the prize, he has chased the dream. The “Dream” — whether it was getting to the State Meet or getting to the NCAA’s as a collegiate — was out there but he never got too far ahead of himself. He never believed that those things were automatic. There was a process to follow and work to be done. Accomplishing the dream meant dealing with the race or the season he was in at the moment. Once THAT was dealt with, one could move on to the next rung in the ladder.

Based on what he accomplished at the 2026 USA Track and Field National Championships, not much has changed in the almost eight years since he wore the King High Track uniform. On Sunday, July 26th , 2026 in the finals of the Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles at Icahn Stadium in New York City, Reyte finished in fourth place in a time of 48.58, his personal best in that event.

That time currently ranks him as the 10th best 400 Hurdler in the United States and 63rd IN THE WORLD. In an interview after his victory at the Mt. SAC Relays in late April he said, “What’s key is that I keep improving, that I keep getting better. So long as I am doing that, improving against good competition, the wins and losses don’t much matter right now.”

While at ML King High School, Reyte was a three- year letter-winner-a five-time League Champion-a CIF Champion, a two-time Masters Meet Champion (which made him the top 300 Hurdler in the ENTIRE CIF (SS) and a two -time second place finisher in the 300 Hurdles at the State Championships. He was a CIF/Master Meet medalist in the 110 hurdles as well and was named the Riverside County Track Athlete of the Year in 2019.

Reyte still hold two school records in the 300 Hurdles and the 400 (ran it once) and is on the school’s second fastest 4 x 100 relay team ever. He was a team captain and a two-time team MVP. At the end of his senior year, he had the third fastest 300 -meter hurdle time IN THE COUNTRY.

Reyte went on to Cal State Fullerton where he was instrumental in the Titans Men’s team winning three consecutive Big West Championships. Reyte was named the Big West Freshman of the year in 2021-only the second Titan to ever receive that honor. He was conference champion in the 2023 400 Hurdles and finished runner-up two other times. He was a four -time participant in the NCAA Western Regional Prelims. He still holds the 400 Hurdle record at CSUF at 50.95.

Since graduation from CSUF, he has been working on making the 2028 U.S. Olympic team. Over the past two years, he has competed unattached (no sponsors or club affiliation) shouldering just about everything that goes along with The Dream on his own. He has had great success in improving his performances and his conditioning and that progress has been highlighted by what happened in New
York and by his victory at the Mt. SAC Relays this past April.

“Making the U.S. Olympic team is an incredible challenge,” said former King Track Coach John Corona, who helped oversee Rash’s high school career. “There are a LOT of people who say this is what they want but are not willing to deal with what it takes to get there. Obviously, he has accepted that challenge and I am not at all surprised at HOW he is approaching the entire prospect. What we are seeing right now is a guy who is laser focused-showing patience with himself and the process and frankly, you can tell he has the confidence that he can do it. When I was coaching, we always talked about the journey, the path to success, the work and time involved, being more important than the destination. It appears that is the approach he is taking and I think it’s the right one. It’s the approach he’s always taken and I think it’s the right one.”

So, is making The Dream come true in Rash’s future? Only time will tell but one thing is certain. However it all turns out, it’ll have been because he took it a day at a time-one season at a time – one race at a time. “Slow and steady wins the race,” said Corona. “If anybody can do this, Reyte can. I’m certainly not betting against him.”