Addison Moore’s Faith has Driven Her Forward This Fall

RunningLane Championships

Therese Breithaupt

Nov 16, 2023

* Addison Moore earned a win and a new personal best at Trinity/ Valkyrie in September.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Schoenegge/ MileSplit

"My confidence at the state meet changed the game."

By Therese Breithaupt - MileSplit

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"Can I tell you a story?"

Woodford County's Addison Moore had something to tell MileSplit this week.

It was about state.

In late October, the sophomore ran the 10th-fastest time in Kentucky state meet history and earned her first Class 3A cross country title. Those results, impressive in their own right, could lead to new roads. She's entered to compete at the fourth annual RunningLane Cross Country Championships on Dec. 2 and may have eyes on breaking Kentucky's all-time 5K best of 16:52.10, held by the legendary Ciara O'Shea.

But let's get back to the story.

It didn't have much to do with her impressive win, but rather the moments and days leading up to the race.

"I was in church the Wednesday before the race and I was so nervous," Moore said. "I kept asking myself, 'Why are you so nervous? You've raced at state before.' And so I prayed, asking God for His advice."

His thoughts?

"God said," Moore recalled, "'We are going to race with confidence. This is your time.'"

From that moment, it all began to click.

Moore, much like the rest of us, experiences her fair share of pre-race nervousness, maybe even a little more so than others. But on race day, during states in October, she began to feel confident.

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The Yellowjacket sophomore took off during the final stretch, toeing the line in 18:12.41. The result earned her a cross country state title. And the reason for it?

"My confidence at the state meet changed the game," she said.

Apart from state, though, the sophomore ascribes her season's success to more than just her consistent training and two packets of oatmeal on race day.

"My faith, team, the running community, are what keep me going," she said.

Moore believes that running is not merely an individual sport but a team sport. Her success is not from her individual talent alone, but rather from the warm community that runs alongside her, ahead of her, who push and cheer her on.

* Moore on the home stretch to take the Kentucky 3A State title.

Photo Credit: Kelly Crume/ MileSplit

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With the cross country season having been over for nearly a month for the Woodford County star, her next venture is postseason.

She has big plans for it.

Announcing her commitment to the RunningLane Cross Country Championships in early October, the Yellowjacket star is ready to take on the legendary fast course for a second time.

Last year, Moore took ninth in the silver race, running 18:51.

When she clocked a new low of 17:20 at Trinity/ Valkyrie in September -- her first time breaking 18 -- and locked in on the state meet in October, Moore knew she was ready for another PR.

It is no secret that RunningLane is held on one of the fastest courses in the nation. Moore knows that.

On December 2, the Bluegrass state standout plans to take advantage of the fast competition and fast course and hit a new personal best.

"Last year I never went sub-18. So now, going into RunningLane with a PR of under 18, by a lot, I know I have it in me to go sub-17. Just 21 seconds, I can do it."

Moore strives to dip under 17 minutes, a massive feat but one she believes she can certainly attain.

"Knowing he's here with me, keeps me at ease," she said.

While RunningLane is set, Moore also is set to run at the Foot Locker South Regional next week in North Carolina. Regardless of the outcome, Moore will no doubt bring that new found confidence with her to every race from here on out.

"I have a mindset of confidence that I want to take to all of my races now. I run for God and not myself."