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NW sophomore Moore making history

By Steve Winzenread | Independent Tribune

Published: May 13, 2009

Jill Moore is happy she gets to race Saturday in the NCHSAA 3A girls state track meet.
She would be happier if there were someone else, anyone else, racing with her.
But being a trailblazer can be solitary work, so the Northwest Cabarrus sophomore will settle for being the first wheelchair racer to compete at the state meet and score points for her team.
Her team. Now there's a subject Moore can warm up to.
"I love them all," she said. "Those guys are my family. We're all really close. The other day we had a track party and I couldn't get through some of the places, so some of the girls would just carry me on their back. These guys are my sisters and brothers."
A birth defect, spina bifida, is the reason Jill Moore uses a wheelchair.
An unconquerable determination is why she rebounded after all eight of her surgeries to put together a resume that is lengthy and varied.
She holds numerous junior swimming national records, has a long list of basketball accolades and set shot put and javelin national records in 2003.
She is also a certified scuba diver, independent water skier and snow skier and an honors student.
Her favorite sport is trick water skiing. She enjoys public speaking.
And she's a groundbreaker.
Jill's mother, Patti, said that only 10 states currently allow a wheelchair racer on the track during regional and state meets.
Jill made North Carolina history Saturday when she competed in Mooresville at the 3A regional, qualifying in 1600 and 3200 for the state meet at North Carolina A&T. But that doesn't mean she was satisfied.
"I definitely didn't run my best race," she said. "It was pretty windy and that track happens to be really, really soft, which isn't too good for this chair, but we got the word out and some other schools are interested in getting a wheelchair runner out there."
What's it like to be the only person competing?
"Lonely," she said. "I could really go for some competition. But it's kind of nice to be unique."
Being the only one beats being denied the chance to participate.
"I was really glad they were going to be able to include me like that," she said. "I really enjoyed competing as an equal, almost. I guess it kind of stunk to have to run my own race, but whatever, we're making headway, we're getting the word out and getting some other runners out there, so I thought it was a pretty beneficial thing."
Keep in mind that Moore knows what it's like to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials, something she did last year in an 800-meter race in Eugene, Ore.
"That was one of the coolest things I've ever done," she said. "I mean, we were there for an exhibition, but nonetheless it was definitely really cool to be in the warmup room next to Jeremy Wariner and all the track and field Olympians, great athletes, Tyson Gay. They're all just walking out like it's no big thing. I shared a Gatorade. It's cool."
Getting there is work.
"A typical week can go anywhere from four miles to seven miles a day," Moore said. "Doing some sprint work and 400s and 800s, keeping up with the teammates."
The sensation of exertion, of trying to surpass what she's done before, is the reward.
"For some of the races, say like the 5k, that's just one of the most monotonous races ever," she said. "But once you get to the end, that last 100 meters, there's just that feeling of accomplishment that you just raced a great race and you're going up against some great competition. You're just booking it all the way through. It just feels amazing. The adrenaline is just awesome."
Moore, who also competed in track while a middle-schooler at Northwest, benefits from being on the school team.
"That allows her to work out every day with the team," Patti Moore said. "Her wheelchair sports team, Carolina Cruisers, only works out one time a week."
Looking ahead, there are colleges that offer scholarships to wheelchair track athletes.
"I definitely want to go to college and get a full education, get a good job and set a career for me because sports, yeah, it might be great, but an education is definitely what's going to carry me through in my life," Moore said.
As a career, she hopes for "something in forensics."
Her advice for would-be wheelchair athletes?
"I'd tell them go for it," Moore said. "You might hit a few roadblocks here and there, but don't let that stop you. Get past it. Fight for the equality and just race your race."
Even if it means that sometimes you're the only one on the track.

Anyone interested in learning more about wheelchair track and field or having Jill Moore speak to their group can contact the Moores at www.aucarolinas.org.