Getting to Know: Davonte Jett-Reynolds

Davonte Jett-Reynolds, whose nickname is "Fetty," joined Greenville Track Club-ELITE in the summer of 2023 to pursue his running dreams. In his time with the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program he improved his personal bests for the 1500, 3,000 and 5,000-meter events and now holds the 3000m program record. He also ventured to the roads and won the 2025 GTC Run Downtown 5K. Fetty has been a valuable and memorable member of the team and is employed at Fleet Feet Greenville. His career interest is collegiate coaching, which he has an opportunity to soon explore. 

Ten Questions with Davonte. 
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1. You have been in Greenville for the past two years, but have now accepted a new position elsewhere. What will your life look like after leaving Greenville”
DJR: After leaving Greenville I will be pursuing my dream of being a collegiate coach at Central Arizona college! That is where I started my running career! 

2. What will you miss about GVL after you move to Arizona for your new job?
DJR: I will miss the early morning runs with my boys on the GTC-ELITE team! 

3. What would be your favorite memory of living in Greenville?
DJR: My favorite memory of living in Greenville, would have to be meeting my girlfriend! 

4. What is your favorite restaurant in Greenville?
DJR: Stax's Original is my favorite restaurant. It was the first place I ate at in Greenville and I love the southern cooking! 

Eduardo Garcia, Davonte, Ryan Drew, Karl Thiessen, Jack Mastandrea and Jason Weitzel

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5. What was your favorite workout with GTC-ELITE?
DJR: My favorite workout is hands down the Specific Economy! 
  FYI: Specific Economy is a GTC-ELITE session in which the athlete runs at a specific "race pace" for 1000 to 3000 meters, followed by some faster repeats or hills. 

6. What was your most impressive race during your time withGTC-ELITE?
DJR: My most impressive race would be the 3,000 meters Indoors that I ran at Clemson when I broke 8:00 for the first time! 

7. What did you learn in the GTC-ELITE program that will assist you in your new coaching position?
DJR:  I learned from the GTC-ELITE program that will help me in my future coaching position is to help runners find their “why”! 

​8. GTC-ELITE has 12 Maxims as guidelines. Which one meant the most to you?
The maxim that I loved the most and that really grew on me was number 7 which is “under promise, but over deliver." ​

9. What is your favorite training footwear?
DJR:  Definitely have to be the ASICS Gel Nimbus! 

10. Do you have a funny story regarding any of your teammates?
DJR: My favorite story would definitely have to be about Ryan (Drew)! We were all eating breakfast and I walked into the kitchen, making some type of funny noise! Ryan loudy said  to me  “DO YOU MIND.”  I turned and looked and Ryan was attempting to fish a pop tart out of the toaster, that was still plugged, using a metal knife. I was in such disbelief and I called Karl (Thiessen) to come in the kitchen and see and then asked Ryan if he’d mind continuing to live. Karl then screamed at Ryan to stop before he killed himself. Ryan had no idea that he shouldn’t put a metal knife into a turned on toaster!  ​

Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is well into its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. The program developed and produced one participant for the 2024 Olympic Games marathon in Paris; four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles; one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in Lima, Peru; three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA; one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase in Eugene, OR; and three qualifiers for the 2024 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. GTC-ELITE  produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year and recently had the top two ranked South Carolina road racers for 2024.

​The program is sponsored and supported by the 53-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.​