scrunners: When did you start to compete in track and field and cross country?
moss: My first track season was two years ago in the 10th grade. I started cross country the next fall.
scrunners: Which do you prefer more, please explain.
moss: I prefer track because you’re surrounded by spectators the entire race. I also like to know exactly how far I’ve run and what distance I have left in a race.
scrunners: What made you decide to become a runner?
moss: After running a timed mile my freshman year, my P.E. teacher got the track coach, Coach Alsberry, to talk to me. I was reluctant to join the track team because I was a competitive tennis player, but the next year, I gave up tennis for running.
scrunners: As senior, how have you seen the sport grow over the years?
moss: When I began running, I had no idea how many track and field and cross country athletes there were in South Carolina. Since then, I’ve seen several teams grow through volunteer coaches and more dedicated runners.
scrunners: How do you feel you have grown in the sport?
moss: I’ve learned to not to let my nerves intimidate me or make me anxious before a race. Now, I can use my nervousness for adrenaline and energy. I have also learned a lot about team support. Making it through a big race or a tough practice is difficult without having encouraging teammates.
scrunners: Does or did anyone in your family run? If so, where and when?
moss: My twin sister Rachel ran with me on the varsity cross country team this past fall. My older sister Chrissy is also a recreational runner.
scrunners: Do you remember your first race? Please explain.
moss: My first race was the 3200-meter relay at the Optimist Relays in Sumter with teammates Alisha Royal (now in Virginia), Ashley Cadoy and Kia Ali. My older sister and my dad, who were with me, kept teasing me that the first track I had ever been to was one that I raced in.
scrunners: What do you remember from your last high school cross country season?
moss: Over the summer, we were nervous about having enough team members to compete in state. Our saving graces were my sister Rachel, whom we stole from the marching band, and Anne Richter, a foreign exchange student from Germany.
scrunners: What kind of goals are you looking to achieve this outdoor season?
moss: I am aiming to make All-State in the 3200 meter run and to run the 1600 meter at state.
scrunners: How much rest do you take between seasons?
moss: About two months rest between seasons.
scrunners: Do you include any cross training in this time?
moss: Yes. I will spend about five days a week at the gym training on the elliptical, riding the bike, or swimming laps in the pool.
scrunners: What is your favorite event in track, why?
moss: The 3200 meter because its unpredictable. No matter where you are at the start of the race, you almost always still have the chance to finish first.
scrunners: Do you have any competitive rivals?
moss: Although I don’t have any individual rivals, Sumter High School has been a long team rival in both cross country and track. The region meets are always intense because our teams are often neck and neck.
scrunners: Do you have a individual or team tradition prior to a meet?
moss: The cross country team and 3200 relay team began praying before every race this year.
scrunners: How did this tradition develop?
moss: When all of us had the pre-race jitters at cross country meet in the fall, one of the girls suggested that we pray. We’ve been doing it ever since.
scrunners: What has been your most challenging race?
moss: My most challenging race was the state meet of my first cross country season. About half way through the race, I had an asthma attack. I slowed my pace down considerably so that I could keep running until I felt a horrible pain in my foot that turned out to be a stress fracture. I stopped running, but a woman on the sidelines I didn’t even know encouraged me to finish the race.
scrunners: When a race plan or pace is changed, how do you change your strategy?
moss: I always adjust my strategy so that at the start of the race I am not towards the front but I am also not trapped at a slower pace. I’ve realized from earlier experiences that starting out too quickly often leads to an asthma attack.
scrunners: Have you ever met a professional athlete?
moss: No, but I would like to.
scrunners: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis to get out the door for practice, school and life?
moss: I always remind myself of how blessed I am. Whenever I dread going to school, I remember to be thankful for my education. Whenever I wish I could skip a day of practice, I remind myself that some people do not even legs to run with.
scrunners: Have you ever been injured? What did you do during this time for training and how did you stay motivated?
moss: As I mentioned before, I had a stress fracture in my left foot my junior year. During the seven months of recovery, I trained by swimming laps in the pool and water jogging, which is a lot tougher than it seems! My mom was my main motivator during that time. She had me looking forward to the next cross country season rather than worrying about missing an entire track season.
scrunners: Where is your favorite place to train?
moss: I love to train at the beach because listening to the ocean is very soothing. Plus, sunrise is breathtaking if I can make myself wake up early enough.
scrunners: How does your training vary as the season progresses?
moss: At the beginning of the season, most practices are long runs. When meets begin, we start interval training with a long run once a week. The weeks before the region and state qualifier meets are probably the toughest, but the week before state is focused on recovery.
scrunners: What do you look for in a coach and what do you expect a coach to look for in you?
moss: The best coaches give their most inexperienced runner just as much encouragement and commitment as their fastest runner. I expect a coach to look for dedication, team commitment, and honesty to the coach and team from his runners.
scrunners: Do you think you would want to coach in the future, if so, what level and why?
moss: I don’t think I will coach in the future, but I hope to volunteer at high school meets.
scrunners: As a senior, what kind of team responsibilities have you encountered this season and also during cross country?
moss: A big part of being a senior is keeping everyone on task at the meets. We have to remind teammates of what times their events are and make sure that they warm-up and cool-down.
scrunners: How have you seen the sport grow in the state?
moss: I have noticed a growing number of South Carolina athletes participating in national meets such as the Footlocker Cross Country Championships. Support from parents has also grown very strong in track and cross country.
scrunners: Do you want to compete in collegiate athletics?
moss: Yes. In fact, I will run cross country and indoor and outdoor track at Winthrop University starting this fall.
scrunners: If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
moss: I would spend more time with my family. The times when I am with my family are the happiest times of my life and when I truly feel at peace with myself.
moss: My first track season was two years ago in the 10th grade. I started cross country the next fall.
scrunners: Which do you prefer more, please explain.
moss: I prefer track because you’re surrounded by spectators the entire race. I also like to know exactly how far I’ve run and what distance I have left in a race.
scrunners: What made you decide to become a runner?
moss: After running a timed mile my freshman year, my P.E. teacher got the track coach, Coach Alsberry, to talk to me. I was reluctant to join the track team because I was a competitive tennis player, but the next year, I gave up tennis for running.
scrunners: As senior, how have you seen the sport grow over the years?
moss: When I began running, I had no idea how many track and field and cross country athletes there were in South Carolina. Since then, I’ve seen several teams grow through volunteer coaches and more dedicated runners.
scrunners: How do you feel you have grown in the sport?
moss: I’ve learned to not to let my nerves intimidate me or make me anxious before a race. Now, I can use my nervousness for adrenaline and energy. I have also learned a lot about team support. Making it through a big race or a tough practice is difficult without having encouraging teammates.
scrunners: Does or did anyone in your family run? If so, where and when?
moss: My twin sister Rachel ran with me on the varsity cross country team this past fall. My older sister Chrissy is also a recreational runner.
scrunners: Do you remember your first race? Please explain.
moss: My first race was the 3200-meter relay at the Optimist Relays in Sumter with teammates Alisha Royal (now in Virginia), Ashley Cadoy and Kia Ali. My older sister and my dad, who were with me, kept teasing me that the first track I had ever been to was one that I raced in.
scrunners: What do you remember from your last high school cross country season?
moss: Over the summer, we were nervous about having enough team members to compete in state. Our saving graces were my sister Rachel, whom we stole from the marching band, and Anne Richter, a foreign exchange student from Germany.
scrunners: What kind of goals are you looking to achieve this outdoor season?
moss: I am aiming to make All-State in the 3200 meter run and to run the 1600 meter at state.
scrunners: How much rest do you take between seasons?
moss: About two months rest between seasons.
scrunners: Do you include any cross training in this time?
moss: Yes. I will spend about five days a week at the gym training on the elliptical, riding the bike, or swimming laps in the pool.
scrunners: What is your favorite event in track, why?
moss: The 3200 meter because its unpredictable. No matter where you are at the start of the race, you almost always still have the chance to finish first.
scrunners: Do you have any competitive rivals?
moss: Although I don’t have any individual rivals, Sumter High School has been a long team rival in both cross country and track. The region meets are always intense because our teams are often neck and neck.
scrunners: Do you have a individual or team tradition prior to a meet?
moss: The cross country team and 3200 relay team began praying before every race this year.
scrunners: How did this tradition develop?
moss: When all of us had the pre-race jitters at cross country meet in the fall, one of the girls suggested that we pray. We’ve been doing it ever since.
scrunners: What has been your most challenging race?
moss: My most challenging race was the state meet of my first cross country season. About half way through the race, I had an asthma attack. I slowed my pace down considerably so that I could keep running until I felt a horrible pain in my foot that turned out to be a stress fracture. I stopped running, but a woman on the sidelines I didn’t even know encouraged me to finish the race.
scrunners: When a race plan or pace is changed, how do you change your strategy?
moss: I always adjust my strategy so that at the start of the race I am not towards the front but I am also not trapped at a slower pace. I’ve realized from earlier experiences that starting out too quickly often leads to an asthma attack.
scrunners: Have you ever met a professional athlete?
moss: No, but I would like to.
scrunners: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis to get out the door for practice, school and life?
moss: I always remind myself of how blessed I am. Whenever I dread going to school, I remember to be thankful for my education. Whenever I wish I could skip a day of practice, I remind myself that some people do not even legs to run with.
scrunners: Have you ever been injured? What did you do during this time for training and how did you stay motivated?
moss: As I mentioned before, I had a stress fracture in my left foot my junior year. During the seven months of recovery, I trained by swimming laps in the pool and water jogging, which is a lot tougher than it seems! My mom was my main motivator during that time. She had me looking forward to the next cross country season rather than worrying about missing an entire track season.
scrunners: Where is your favorite place to train?
moss: I love to train at the beach because listening to the ocean is very soothing. Plus, sunrise is breathtaking if I can make myself wake up early enough.
scrunners: How does your training vary as the season progresses?
moss: At the beginning of the season, most practices are long runs. When meets begin, we start interval training with a long run once a week. The weeks before the region and state qualifier meets are probably the toughest, but the week before state is focused on recovery.
scrunners: What do you look for in a coach and what do you expect a coach to look for in you?
moss: The best coaches give their most inexperienced runner just as much encouragement and commitment as their fastest runner. I expect a coach to look for dedication, team commitment, and honesty to the coach and team from his runners.
scrunners: Do you think you would want to coach in the future, if so, what level and why?
moss: I don’t think I will coach in the future, but I hope to volunteer at high school meets.
scrunners: As a senior, what kind of team responsibilities have you encountered this season and also during cross country?
moss: A big part of being a senior is keeping everyone on task at the meets. We have to remind teammates of what times their events are and make sure that they warm-up and cool-down.
scrunners: How have you seen the sport grow in the state?
moss: I have noticed a growing number of South Carolina athletes participating in national meets such as the Footlocker Cross Country Championships. Support from parents has also grown very strong in track and cross country.
scrunners: Do you want to compete in collegiate athletics?
moss: Yes. In fact, I will run cross country and indoor and outdoor track at Winthrop University starting this fall.
scrunners: If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
moss: I would spend more time with my family. The times when I am with my family are the happiest times of my life and when I truly feel at peace with myself.