A native of the South Side, 27-year-old track and field star Consuela “Connie” Moore is known to many as one of the fastest women to come out of the city and is on the fast track to success.
ChicagoDefender.com Contributor A native of the South Side, 27-year-old track and field star Consuela “Connie” Moore is known to many as one of the fastest women to come out of the city and is on the fast track to success. In June she won the women’s 200 meter at the USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa and has received national acclaim ever since. As a valedictorian at South Shore High School, it was seen from a young age that she was destined for greatness in the classroom as well as the track. Although uninterested, Moore started running track while she was in high school. "My camp counselor inspired me to put the basketball down and run," she told the Defender. "My high school track coach saw me racing the boys in gym class and came to me during my lunch period and asked if I was interested in running track and I said "No," but I eventually gave in." That perfectionist drive and competitive edge has landed Moore in a position of potentially being known as one of the greatest track stars in history, which she never really thought was possible when she first started out. "A track star was never something that I was initially looking to become," Moore said. "I wasn’t very knowledgeable about the sport." She credits the late Florence “FloJo” Griffith-Joyner, who still holds the record for the 100 and 200 meter, as being her inspiration. "She wasn’t obnoxious or boastful at all about her accomplishments, she did it with class," Moore said. "She can’t give a little bit, she always gives everything she’s got," said Moore’s mother, Amanea Moore. "She’s always been a perfectionist and had a competitive edge to herself." Off the track, the Olympic athlete credits her mom for being her biggest inspiration. She looks to her mother as a person who had to overcome obstacles but stayed strong and always provided for her and her 11 siblings. "She worked hard but she never shorted any one of her kids," she said. "I admired her coming up as a kid because she always encouraged me to pursue my dreams no matter what they were." After making track a priority in her life for close to 10 years, Moore decided to hang up her spikes for over two years in order to pursue other goals that she wanted to accomplish. "I was just always on the road and never really had a chance to just sit back and chill for a second," said Moore. "I always wanted to get my masters so during that time I started to pursue my MBA in marketing at the University of Phoenix." Moore also wanted to give back to the community during her time away from the track. "I’m real big on community service and a huge advocate that if more positive role models stayed in the community, things would be better," she said. She’s helped her community through her numerous contributions to different events to inspire younger generations such as being the guest "Principal for a Day" at her former high school; as keynote speaker at the 1st Annual Kankakee Basketball Clinic; and as the guest Olympic Athlete for Mayor Daley’s Track and Field Program. Moore made her return to the track after meeting Joyner’s widow, Al Joyner. He and gold medalist April Holmes inspired her to make a comeback and she didn’t disappoint them after racing to become the 200 meter national champion, he said. "When I saw her mechanics and drive, I knew she was special," Joyner told the Defender. "Certain things I saw her do in practice, I had only seen from one person before and that was my late wife." Joyner believes Moore will leave a legacy on the sport that proves that if you have a gift, that gift never stop giving. "I believe it’s never over until it’s over," he said. "I think she knew that she had unfinished business and after she came back and won the 200 meter. It was a sign that she wasn’t finished yet." Moore is now in training to compete in Europe and doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon. She is striving to be even more of a role model for young women who are following in her footsteps and will continue to encourage youth who are interested in pursuing any of their goals. "It’s truly no limits on what you can do as long as your mind is set on it," said Moore. "You have to overcome anything you put your mind to and just stay motivated and inspired. Her mother finds it hard to describe how proud she is of her daughter for accomplishing her goals after being through so much in her life. "It’s an awesome feeling. Coming from the neighborhood we came from, it’s a big accomplishment. She has an extraordinary spirit and I don’t even think she knows how remarkable she is," said the mother. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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