Benzie star sets sights on Olympics

NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- As a life coach in the Chicago suburbs, Jolene Moore works with private and professional groups on getting the most out of their lives.

"People today work hard and end up putting themselves on the back burner," she said. "I help motivate them to achieve their goals and optimal health."

At 42-years-old, Moore -- a 1984 Benzie Central grad (Jolene Crooks) -- is running down her lifelong dream.

Moore will compete in the U.S. race walking Olympic Trials on July 6 in Eugene, Ore. She's hoping to qualify for the Beijing Olympics and fulfill an aspiration years in the making.

"I've always wanted to be an Olympian," Moore said. "When I was growing up, my dream wasn't to live in suburbia with three amazing kids. I'm lucky that worked out ... but to have race walking I'm getting an amazing second chance to live my dream. I don't know if I'll make it, but I'm living the dream getting there."

The Olympic dream has taken some alterations over the years. In high school, distance running was Moore's focus. She was the 1983 Class C cross country champion and picked up track titles the following spring in the 800 and 1600 meters. Moore also led Benzie Central to cross country team titles in 1982 and 1983.

From there, Moore went to Michigan State University where she was a scholarship runner.

After college, Moore gave up athletics in pursuit of a "normal life." She moved to the Chicago area, went to grad school and started a family.

"I've always known myself to be an athlete," Moore said. "When I wasn't competing, I was not being myself."

Attempts to get back to running failed because Moore suffered back injuries during the pregnancy of her three children. Surgery was an option, but she decided against it and gave up athletics altogether.

That was until she was watching the 2000 Olympics and caught a glimpse of race walking.

"My first thought was, tell me I can't run because of the impact on my back, maybe I can race walk," Moore said. "And the rest, as they say, is history."

"Race walking is a judged sport that looks a lot like running," Moore said. "But there are two strict rules you have to adhere to. No. 1 is you have to maintain contact with the ground at all times. And No. 2 is when you land, you have to do so with a straight knee."

During a race, judges monitor the competitors and hand out red cards when someone violates either rule. Three red cards get racers disqualified.

"When you push the pace in a race walk, that's when the technique breaks down," Moore said. "My weakness is not the physical ability. It's my technical base."

With women's race walks spanning 20 kilometers -- and 50K for men -- concentration has to be high for a long period of time.

"It's all conscious," Moore said. "When you run, you just run. When you race walk, you have to consciously be thinking about what you're doing at all times."

When Moore decided to get involved with the sport, she went to Wisconsin to seek the help of a race-walking coach.

"The first thing he asked me to do was show him my technique," Moore said. "I had no idea."

It didn't take long for Moore to catch on and start achieving some success. In 2002, she finished eighth at both the U.S. Indoor and Outdoor championships. She improved to seventh in the outdoor in 2003 while moving up to fourth for the indoor competition.

"I have natural talent, so at first it was easy for me to be able to achieve a good, competitive level," Moore said. "When I wanted to compete on an international level, that's when I found it more difficult."

In 2004, Moore took a shot at her Olympic dream, but finished sixth at the U.S. trials.

That led her to start training with Tim Seaman, who monitors Moore's progress from his home near San Diego.

As a coach, Seaman had a vast personal background to draw upon. He was an Olympic qualifier in 2000 and 2004 and is hoping to qualify this year as an active race walker.

"It's rare that this happens," Seaman said. "No other elite race walker is doing this. Jolene was one of the first athletes I picked up because I felt she has such a high level of ability and her character's so powerful, I wanted to help her as best I can."

He's also watched Moore develop over the last four years into one of the top female race walkers in the country. At 41 years old last year, Moore finished second in the country in what Seaman described as "amazing."

To say that Moore is putting all of her eggs into one basket with the Olympic Trials on July 6 would be a drastic understatement.

"When I think about the Olympic trials, it is one day and one race that will determine my life," Moore said. "Things will never be the same as they are that day. If I go out there and achieve my dream, I'm an Olympian for life. Every day for the last four years, this has been my goal."

According to U.S.A. Track and Field Director of Communications Jill Geer, Moore will need to win the Olympic Trial and break 1 hour, 38 minutes -- the Olympic "B" standard -- in order to qualify. She could also get in if she finished in the top three and broke 1:33.00 -- the Olympic "A" standard -- but that scenario seems unlikely.

Should Moore win the Olympic Trial but finish slower than the 1:38 needed, she wouldn't receive an invitation to Beijing.

If Moore does fall short in Oregon, it won't be from a lack of support. Her three children, Mari (13), Kendra (12) and Max (9) will be there to support her, along with her parents, Terry and Henry Crooks, her college roommate and a number of other friends.

"I'm going to have an awesome entourage to cheer me on," Moore said. "If this was a popularity contest, I'd win for sure."

Also there for support will be Seaman, who will run his Olympic Trial the day before.

"I think there are about five women in the U.S. that could make the team," Seaman said of Moore's chances. "She has the ability to get the (B) standard, and with her second-place finish last year (in the U.S. Outdoors), I'd say she has a one-in-five chance to win."

To get ready for the trials, Moore went to Europe this spring to compete in a number of races. She said the large number of events overseas compared to the few opportunities stateside took her abroad.

"I went for races," she said. "Russia hosted the World Cup race. Minus the Olympics, it the most prestigious race in the world. That's where you want to be, racing for Team USA."

Moore didn't achieve the success she wanted, as a stomach virus in Russia kept her from going at 100 percent. However, she said it was an enjoyable experience traveling around Europe and meeting with all of the international competitors.

Whether or not Moore races in China later this summer, she is in the twilight of her career.

"I'll retire from race walking this year," Moore said. "I'm old for a competitor, but the biggest thing is I've put so much into this. I ended up with a serious (hamstring) injury in January, and that's when it hit me I can't do it all. I'm an elite athlete, an elite parent and an elite professional, but something had to give."

Moore has put work on the back-burner since the winter to focus on her training and her family. Once the run at the Olympics is over, she said she needs to get back to her career.

Besides life coaching, Moore is also looking to work with athletes at the collegiate level.

"In the past four years of training, we haven't been up because it kills my back to drive there," Moore said. "So, I have a lot of paying back to do for all of the trips they've made down here. My kids love the beach and we will be there this summer."

Photos

Jolene Moore Special to the Record-Eagle

Former Benzie Central standout Jolene (Crooks) Moore will attempt to make the U.S. Olympic team in race walking when she competes in the Trials on July 6 in Eugene, Ore. Special to the Record-Eagle