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Kevin Moore: Making a Mark Over the One Lap
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by Chris Wainwright
On the 27th February this year a 19 year-old from the Central Coast of NSW made his mark in the 400m. In one race Kevin Moore went from running 47.06 seconds for the one lap to a fantastic PB of 46.13sec. On that magical night at the Sydney Track Classic Moore decided he wanted to make a statement, and in the process placed his name in the ring for selection for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.Another quality run at the Melbourne World Athletics Tour event (where he ran 46.49sec to place 4th) and a 5th placing at the National Championships in Perth and Moore had done enough to make his way onto the men's 4x400m squad for New Delhi, India.
With such a big breakthrough year for Moore in 2010 we decided it would be a perfect time to find out a little bit more about this very talented 400m athlete.
Runnerstribe
Firstly, thanks for taking the time to have a quick chat with Runnerstribe. Before we talk too much about your amazing breakthrough year in 2010, can you tell us a little about yourself (as many people would not know too much about who Kevin Moore is) and how you started out in athletics?
Kevin Moore
Hi Runnerstribe, I'm 19 years old and live on the Central Coast. I began athletics when I was 8 years old at Woy Woy Little Athletics as a result of interest in the sport and enjoyment with friends. At the age of 14 years I decided to start training with Larry Spencer, who is still my coach today. Up until the age of 18 years of age I competed in Little Athletics and High School competitions in both the 100m and 200m events.
RT
How long have you been with your current coach, Larry Spencer? Do you train individually, or do you train as part of a bigger group in Sydney? What would your normal training week look like?
KM
KM
I have been with my coach Larry Spencer for 6 years now and we train on the central coast in a squad of about 8. A normal week of training would consist of 4 track sessions, 3 gym sessions, 2 recovery sessions and 1 hill session.
RTThis year has been quite remarkable for you, which all started with a victory at the NSW Country Championships in mid January (running 48.03sec for the 400m). Prior to 2010 you had concentrated on the 100m/200m sprint events, so what made you step up to the 400m in 2010?
KM
Moving to the 400m was always in the front of Larry’s mind and in the back of mine. We are still working on raw speed but in 2009 we decided to start training and racing in the 400m event. I believe the event chooses the athlete.
Moving to the 400m was always in the front of Larry’s mind and in the back of mine. We are still working on raw speed but in 2009 we decided to start training and racing in the 400m event. I believe the event chooses the athlete.
RT
By early February you had reduced your time for the 400m to 47.06sec (when you won the 400m at the Hunter Track Classic). At this point in the year was this sort of time expected? Were there clear indications that something special was about to happen?
KM
I also aim high, I was expecting to run somewhere around that mark. My training leading into the domestic session was consistent and I was able to put a lot of good sessions together. The indications from training told me that I was close but I still needed to learn more about how to race the 400m. I was quite happy with my time of 47.06 at this stage.
I also aim high, I was expecting to run somewhere around that mark. My training leading into the domestic session was consistent and I was able to put a lot of good sessions together. The indications from training told me that I was close but I still needed to learn more about how to race the 400m. I was quite happy with my time of 47.06 at this stage.
RT
You then lined up in the Sydney Track Classic with many people in the now expecting another big run from you. In the end you stopped the clock in a very fast 46.13sec PB, placed 5th in a quality field, defeated the likes of Clay Watkins and Joel Milburn, and had emerged as a serious threat to qualify for a relay sport for the Commonwealth Games. Firstly, what did the run do for your confidence and secondly, did you ever expect to be running a low 46 second 400m at the age of 19?
KM
I was only put into the race 4 days prior so firstly I was happy to be given a lane. When I crossed the line and realised my time I was over the moon. My confidence definitely went up a few steps from that race. I had hopes to run into the 46’s given the race and atmosphere of that night but I never thought that 46.13 would come so suddenly.
I was only put into the race 4 days prior so firstly I was happy to be given a lane. When I crossed the line and realised my time I was over the moon. My confidence definitely went up a few steps from that race. I had hopes to run into the 46’s given the race and atmosphere of that night but I never thought that 46.13 would come so suddenly.
Watch Moore run his PB in Sydney below:
RT
In many ways people would have expected it to be difficult for you to back up such a run with another “big” run at the Melbourne Track Classic. However you ran a 46.49sec for the 400m and you were only 0.76sec behind the winner (Ben Offereins) and you again defeated Watkins and Milburn. How pleasing was it to back up your Sydney performance with such a quality run in Melbourne? Did you have higher expectations of yourself after Sydney?
KM
It was very pleasing to run a solid 46 again a few days later. I was not very happy with the way I constructed that race, as I went out for the first 200m slower then I wanted. I did have higher expectations after Sydney due to the pb’s I was running, although I was hoping to go faster again in Melbourne but everyone ran slower that night.
It was very pleasing to run a solid 46 again a few days later. I was not very happy with the way I constructed that race, as I went out for the first 200m slower then I wanted. I did have higher expectations after Sydney due to the pb’s I was running, although I was hoping to go faster again in Melbourne but everyone ran slower that night.
RTAfter Sydney and Melbourne you ran 46.77sec at the ACT Championships and then placed 2nd behind Milburn at the NSW Championships. Milburn actually ran 46.02sec to your 47.10sec performance – was this a bit of a shock, or were you ready for such a result? Was your confidence still high entering the National Championships?
KM
Yes, I was very shocked from the NSW state titles, not by Milburn’s time but by mine. I definately wanted to go much faster then I did that night. I was not quite sure why I was back into the 47’s but it did knock my confidence around a bit. I was just thinking and hoping that I had the legs to perform again in Perth.
Yes, I was very shocked from the NSW state titles, not by Milburn’s time but by mine. I definately wanted to go much faster then I did that night. I was not quite sure why I was back into the 47’s but it did knock my confidence around a bit. I was just thinking and hoping that I had the legs to perform again in Perth.
RT
Upon entering the Nationals in Perth what were your expectations? Were you always thinking that placing 5th was a realistic expectation, knowing that it would likely lead to a place on the squad for the 4x400m at the Commonwealth Games? How did you react to your eventual 5th placing (behind the “big four” in Offereins, Steffensen, Milburn and Wroe)?
KM
I was really hoping for a 5th or higher positioning at the Nationals. I was not really thinking about the relay squad, I was more focused on my performance because my last start, being the NSW state titles, I was back in the 47’s and that needed to be cleared off my mind. When I crossed the line in 5th place I was extremely relieved and happy. I believe I ran as good as I could that night, there was absolutely nothing left in the tank.
I was really hoping for a 5th or higher positioning at the Nationals. I was not really thinking about the relay squad, I was more focused on my performance because my last start, being the NSW state titles, I was back in the 47’s and that needed to be cleared off my mind. When I crossed the line in 5th place I was extremely relieved and happy. I believe I ran as good as I could that night, there was absolutely nothing left in the tank.
RT
Upon finding out that you had made the squad for the Commonwealth Games how did you feel? This will in fact be your first real taste of senior International competition, although you did represent Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008. Do you feel like you can feed off the experiences you’ve already had when you ran in India in 2008? How did you find running the 200m at the CYG?
KM
I was actually in the shower and missed the call from Athletics Australia with the good news. I was stunned when I was told I had made the team, it soon sank in and later I could not have been any happier. Yes in 2008 I thought it was great to be running for Australia as a junior but I did not think that it would be experience for the real deal in 2010. I think I am at an advantage by racing and living in India for those 11 days. I found competing in India as a great experience with the team and village environment. There were the obvious weather and food differences but nothing too hard to adapt to in the village.
RT
It has been a whirlwind year for you so far in 2010, what do you put the large improvements down to in the 400m? You’re actually one of the fastest ever 400m runners Australia has seen at such a young age, in saying this, what’s your next big step in terms of time, or is it more about being consistent at running around the 46 second mark over the next 12 months? Do you have any lead up races prior to New Delhi?
KM
My improvements this year have come very quickly. I believe it is the change of events mostly, as my body adapts well to the 400m training. My coach Larry Spencer is great as he understands my body and what he needs to give me at certain times of the session. Also the NSWIS 400m Fast Track program led by Mike Hurst that I am a part of has been a big help in the transition to the 400m event. I was not aware of that statistic but very happy to hear it. In terms of my next step in the event I plan to run consistently in the low 46’s but my main goal is to step into the 45 second zone. Yes, I am in the 4x400m squad for the Continental Cup in Croatia and then from there I plan to go into the base in Germany and pick up some races there before heading to New Delhi.
My improvements this year have come very quickly. I believe it is the change of events mostly, as my body adapts well to the 400m training. My coach Larry Spencer is great as he understands my body and what he needs to give me at certain times of the session. Also the NSWIS 400m Fast Track program led by Mike Hurst that I am a part of has been a big help in the transition to the 400m event. I was not aware of that statistic but very happy to hear it. In terms of my next step in the event I plan to run consistently in the low 46’s but my main goal is to step into the 45 second zone. Yes, I am in the 4x400m squad for the Continental Cup in Croatia and then from there I plan to go into the base in Germany and pick up some races there before heading to New Delhi.
RT
You haven’t actually run a 200m in competition in 2010 (well no results have come through) – was this planned (i.e did you always plan to concentrate on the 400m in 2010)? Are you still looking at doubling in the future (200m/400m)?
KMI did run just one 200 at the NSW Country Championships. The plan was defiantly to run some 200’s in 2010 but due to injury early in the season we ran out of time and the 400m became the focus. My races are mainly chosen by my coach but we still need to be faster over 200m so I am sure I will be doing more 200m’s in the years to come.
RT
With expectations that you will run at least the heats of the 4x400m in New Delhi is the plan to make a run for an individual spot in the 400m at the 2012 Olympic Games in London? Did you even expect to be in this position after finishing 2009 with PB’s of 10.75sec for the 100m and 21.37sec for the 200m?
KM
Yes that is correct. I really want to develop as an athlete to secure an individual position at London 2012. No, at the end on the 2009 session I thought I was still going to be working on speed and moving to 400m in 2 years time. I am extremely happy with the earlier move and progression so far.
Yes that is correct. I really want to develop as an athlete to secure an individual position at London 2012. No, at the end on the 2009 session I thought I was still going to be working on speed and moving to 400m in 2 years time. I am extremely happy with the earlier move and progression so far.
RT
After having such a big breakthrough at the start of 2010, what’s your next big goal in your career over the 400m (and for that matter the 100m/200m)? It’s interesting to see that an athlete like Sean Wroe went from running 46.68sec as a 20 year-old to a 45.35sec as a 21 year-old. Do you look at an athlete such as Wroe and see what can happen in such a short amount of time and think that anything is possible?
KM
I would love to have a couple of 45 second runs under my belt heading into India. I do not think you will be seeing me line up for a 100m race any time soon but as for the 200m I really need to get my time under that 21 second mark. Yes Sean Wore is a great athlete as Australia has seen over the years. I do believe anything is possible with 100% commitment to your sport.
I would love to have a couple of 45 second runs under my belt heading into India. I do not think you will be seeing me line up for a 100m race any time soon but as for the 200m I really need to get my time under that 21 second mark. Yes Sean Wore is a great athlete as Australia has seen over the years. I do believe anything is possible with 100% commitment to your sport.
RT
Thanks for taking the time to complete this interview. I hope that all goes well for you over the coming months leading into the Commonwealth Games – good luck!
KM
No worries at all, thank you Runnerstribe.
No worries at all, thank you Runnerstribe.
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2 comments to "Kevin Moore: Making a Mark Over the One Lap"
Good luck Kevin....
Go for it...
Joe N Jessie
We are cheering you on all the way Kev.
Run the socks off them.