Moore’s star shines brightly on biggest stage

Devotia Moore won a gold medal in the 1,000 meters the way she usually does - from wire to wire. Little did she know that would be the other race in a magnificent day for the long distance junior track star out of Townsend Harris.
Because in the 1,500 meters, Moore would be truly tested, falling behind Robeson’s Jadon Works by 50 meters at one point only to pull off an improbable comeback and win the event going away in the 103rd PSAL City Championship at the Armory Track & Field Center Saturday afternoon.
“When she was ahead of me,” Moore admitted, “I was a little nervous. But I was pretty sure I would catch up to her.”
Works almost started sprinting from the start, advancing beyond the nine other competitors. Moore usually likes to jump out quick, then hang on late. But she had to resist the urge to increase her pace when she saw Works striding past her, and stay the course. More than halfway through the race, Moore trailed by 50 meters, only to slowly pick up speed as Works started to slow down.
“I was yelling, ‘don’t go with her,’ ” Townsend Harris Coach Tim Connor said.
Moore didn’t, and she eventually surpassed Works, winning her second event of the day rather handily, at 4:57.63 seconds, besting Nakisha Bogle of Boys & Girls by over 40 seconds. Works finished fifth, at 5:11.30 seconds.
“I figured if I went with her [at the beginning], I would die,” Moore said. “I just wanted to keep up my pace. With 400 meters [left], I gained on her. By the time we got to 250 meters left, I pretty much had her.”
Afterward, Connor was impressed with the maturity Moore displayed. In past years, he said, she may have taken the bait and fallen short at the end. Not this year, however.
“It’s tough when you see someone jump out like that, but she trusted her training and her times,” Connor said. “She matured as a runner exponentially [in the last year]. She’s the first junior I’ve ever made a captain. I did it only because she just has that presence; she’s a leader.”
In other girls events, Jessona McDonald of Forest Hills took home the gold in the 300 meters, as did Hillcrest’s Makalia Griffith in the 600 meters, and Dalilah Muhammad of Cardozo in the high jump. Cardozo’s Lindsay Rowe earned silver in the 55 meter hurdles, as did their 4×400 relay team of Rowe, Muhammad, Joy Henry and Tessa West, Overall, Cardozo finished second in team points with 48.5; Boys & Girls won the title with 69. Townsend Harris was fifth with 27.