New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Moore adds shot put milestone to résumé
NEW HAVEN — As frustrating as the recent indoor track season was for many Connecticut athletes due to COVID-19, there was a silver lining for Hillhouse junior Gary Moore Jr.
For the first time in his career, Moore threw the shot put the coveted distance of 60-plus feet during the indoor season. In a dual meet against Bloomfield, he won the shot put with a throw of 60 feet, eight inches. The throw is a school record, ranks fifth all-time in Connecticut high school and at the time ranked No. 6 nationally.
“I always knew I could throw 60 feet because I did it other times during meets,” Moore said. “But every time I threw that far in those other meets, I always fouled and it didn’t count. This time, with
better technique and being more focused, I was able to get it done without a foul. It felt good to get that mark, officially.”
Overall, the indoor season was kind to Moore. During the dual meet season he won the shot put three times with throws of 57-11, 58-1 and 60-8. In an out of state meet he set a state record in the weight throw with a throw of 71-3. At the Meet of Champions meet in March (outdoor meet) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in the Championship Division he won the shot put (60-4) and was fourth in the hammer throw (189-2).
For his effort, Moore has been selected the Register All-Area Boys Indoor Track MVP.
Moore does have one advantage many track athletes don’t have thanks to his parents. His dad Gary Moore Sr. is the Hillhouse boys indoor track coach and his mom, Michelle Moore, is the Hillhouse boys outdoor track coach.
“People will read this and say I am biased, but Gary Jr. really is an exceptional athlete,” Gary Moore Sr. said. “His main events are the field events but he has success running in races including relays for our team. I can put him in just about any event and he will succeed and he’s a pretty good football player too, although he has realized the field events are where he excels.
“He has also become a student of the sport. Track is one sport that gives you an immediate indication of how you are doing. You make a throw or run a race and you get a result, it’s instant feedback. Gary would fail when he threw 60 feet and he would fail and he would fail. But he learned something with each of those throws. He also watches videos over and over of his performances and sees where he needs to improve.”
Gary Moore Jr.’s sister Leah Moore is also an exceptional field athlete in the shot put and weight throw and is headed to the University of Kentucky. While both Moores will tell you their parents and a lot of hard work got them to where they are, working with private field coach Damian Larkins, a field coach for the Bloomfield team, has been a plus as well.
“Coach Larkins has made a huge impact for me and my sister’s development,” Gary Moore Jr. said. “He’s improved my technique and pushed me to reach my potential.”
Gary Moore Jr.’s success was also recognized by the Southern Connecticut Conference as he was named the conference’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
“Gary Jr., and my daughter Leah, have both bought in to what we told them over the years when it comes to their development,” Michelle Moore said. “They are both students of their events and they pass that knowledge on to their teammates. Gary has become very mature, especially when it comes to using his practices and looking at videos to make improvements.
“Despite the impact of COVID-19, this past year Gary’s ability and improvement has skyrocketed and you see that in his recent meets where he threw the shot put over 60 feet. I’m very proud of my kids.”
Gary Moore Jr. is being recruited by nearly a dozen Division I colleges, although he hasn’t made a choice or divulged what colleges are recruiting him.
“It feels good and I’m thankful to see people taking notice of what I am accomplishing, to be Athlete of the Year in the SCC and being named an AllArea MVP,” Gary Moore Jr. said. “It’s good to get that recognition because it validates all your hard work.
“But I have a long way to go with a lot more work to do and improvements to make to reach my true potential. I have a lot of colleges recruiting me. But right now my focus is the high school outdoor season. I want to have success in the (CIAC) Class L meet and State Open.”