Moore adjusts

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- It's hard to believe that Luke Moore was nervous. Or that the Struthers senior could even get nervous. Not after everything he's experienced the past five years.
But he was.
Moore was seeded fourth in the 800-meter run entering last week's Division II regional at Ravenna High School. He ran the first lap in 54 seconds. Too fast. At the district meet the week before, he ran the first lap in 57 seconds and set a school record.
He was ahead of that pace and it was just a question of whether he would have enough left.
"It was real tight," he said. "I was in fifth until probably the last 2 meters. I think I won by 2 inches. At first, I wasn't completely sure if I made it, so I asked and they said I made it.
"I wanted it really bad, but I think I was mostly just relieved."
Background
Moore spent the last four years in Dakar, Senegal, which is on Africa's West Coast. His father, Rev. Jonathan Moore, did missionary work in the city. Dakar's main language is French, but there's a sizable English-speaking population.
"When I found out I was going, I didn't really have any reservations," said Moore, who is now fluent in French. "I was excited. It seemed like a big adventure."
He went to an American school. His friends spoke English. He rode his dirt bike, went rock climbing, played soccer and went swimming. A lot. Hot days in Senegal can reach 120 degrees. "Cold" days dip into the 70s.
"It was a little bit of an adjustment, but I don't really have any bad memories," Moore said. "It was a lot of fun. In fact, it was harder to leave than it was to come here."
Moved to Struthers
Moore moved to Struthers last summer -- his father is a 1978 Struthers High graduate -- and played football and cross country in the fall before starting track in January.
"Sports helped a lot with adjusting to a new school and making friends," he said. "And Struthers has been great. I didn't know anyone there, but it feels like I've grown up there."
Moore also reunited with a lot of the friends he had before he left for Africa. But it's been a short reunion. Moore is leaving for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs on June 26. He plans to major in political science and run track.
"It came down to that or Notre Dame and I just felt the Academy offered more physically and had better training facilities," he said. "I'm also going to minor in Arabic. I eventually want to work for the CIA in the Middle East."
For now, he's just focused on Saturday's race. His goal is to place in the top eight -- which would qualify him for All-Ohio status.
"I ran relays most of the year, so I'll finally have fresh legs," he said. "I'm excited to see what I can do."
scalzo@vindy.com