Hunter continues to pursue passions
Between running and working toward medical degree, King Kekaulike grad also helps next generation
Training and competing at high levels has taught Reid Hunter about discipline and focus, tools that have not only helped him to succeed in the running world, but in everyday life.
Between marathon training, working for his father’s construction company and coaching, the 2009 King Kekaulike High School graduate has been studying to pursue a career in internal medicine. By next term, he will have finished all of his prerequisites from the University of Hawaii-Maui College and online courses at UH Manoa.
“Running teaches you a lot about discipline and accomplishing and setting goals, and you can use that in your whole entire life,” Hunter said via Zoom Tuesday. “So I’d definitely say it’s a worthwhile pursuit, and it increases your mental discipline.”
Whether he’s enduring long runs or nights studying for medical school, Hunter has the mental and physical stamina.
Through running, which has been a passion of his since childhood, Hunter said he also learned a lot about human physiology and “how that can be applied to running.”
“From there, I looked into disease and pathologies, and was really interested in microbiology and it just kind of built upon itself from a fairly early age,” he added.
In high school, Hunter gradually moved his way to the top of the ranks, finishing in fourth and fifth place at the state cross country championships his junior and senior year, respectively. The Na Alii squad also won their first Maui Interscholastic League team title in 2007 after Hunter had battled for the individual crown.
By his senior track season, he was on his way to becoming a state champion, winning the 1,500 and 800 meters.
“That had like a big impact on my life just because I wanted to win pretty much from middle school and then coming up short for three years and then finally getting it in the last year,” he said. “I just remember