Menchville freshman Alex Moore capped a sterling indoor swimming season in late March, breaking two state records at the National Age group Swimming Association (NASA) Junior Nationals, held at the Doyle Aquatic Center in Clearwater, FL.
Moore, 14, who specializes at the shorter distances, earned his distinctions by placing sixth in the 50-meter freestyle (22.09), as well as 12th in the 100-meter free (46.54).
Although he broke both records at the same four-day meet, they are the first state records he has ever held.
And at least one might not last for long.
Jeff Kincaid, coach of the Southeastern Virginia Seahawks Aquatic team, which Moore swims with before and after Menchville’s season, was quick to put his swimmer’s accomplishments in perspective.
“The 100 free might stick because it’s a 14-year old record, but there some Virginia kids his age traveling to a meet next week that could have a shot at the 50 (record).”
With the swimming season getting ready to transition from short course (25-meter pool) events to long course (50-meter pool) meets, Moore is aware of the realities which come with holding age group records.
“I’m not swimming any other short course races before my birthday,” he notes, adding that he will race in one final long course event this month. Then, his age group will bump up to 15-16 after he blows out the candles for his cake on May 7th.
Kincaid is proud of his swimmer’s accomplishments so far this season.
“We set some goals last September, and he hit them,” says the Seahawk coach, now in his second year of working with Moore.
And the new age group shouldn’t have an adverse effect on Moore’s performance, especially from a mental standpoint. His state records came in 16-and under races in which he posted the best time for his age, while defeating dozens of older swimmers to qualify for the finals.
Moore credits his experiences of racing older swimmers as a large key in his formula of success, Finding high-level age group meets also helps, and he has one particular favorite.
“The Eastern Zones meet has helped me because the top swimmers always go there. I raced the long and short course meets as a twelve-year old, and will compete in the long course meet this summer when it’s in Richmond,” pointing out that the River City’s Poseidon Swimming facility which hosts the Zones was also home of the 2008 Olympic swimming trials.
Racing in top-notch meets is a strategy which Kincaid also embraces.
“Going to meets like that (Eastern Zones) have helped Alex gain experience.”
Racing as a freshman in high school also helps, and Moore usually competes in two individual and two relay events for the Monarchs team during the winter. But the young swimmer has already displayed versatility and endurance, entering as many as eight events in a full meet. Counting preliminary and semifinal races, this can lead to as many as 20 races in one meet, truly a feat reserved for the likes of Olympian Michael Phelps.
But Moore takes it all in stride, while keeping a firm grasp on reality.
Asked about the possibility of being an Olympian like Phelps, the 18-time gold medalist from Baltimore, Moore says that he’s not really looking hard at a future Summer Games unless his times start going “way down,” and then downplays the challenge of racing in multiple events at meets, using the NASA championships as his example.
“In Florida, the meet lasted four days, so I only had to swim three events the first day, three the second, and two on the final day.”
No big deal.
Moore’s training regimen is also a reflection, as well as by-product, of his enhanced level of fitness. He just enjoyed a week off in early April following a series of championship meets, including the NASA, but will not see another break until he gets a well earned two-week respite in August, after the completion of an outdoor season that will include more national level meets.
However, his future training plans could add another nuance in the near future. Asked about his college plans, Moore is ready with one response, an answer which he knows because of already having attended camp and meeting the head and assistant swim coaches at the school, yet another show of preparation for the next task.
“I want to attend the United States Naval Academy.”
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