Moore, Self honored for outdoor success
5/12/2016 3:15:00 PM | Track & Field
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State men's and women's track and field season has been filled with firsts, championships and historical performances. What head coach David Self saw from sophomore Jeffrey Moore, though, stood out.
Moore was named Southland Conference Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Year after recording a pair of first-place finishes in route to being named the high-point scorer at the league championships. Self was also honored as women's head coach of the year.
“To be able to do it outdoors, in that heat and kind of wind, it was a tough day,” Self said. “When you're out in it for seven hours and you have to run two races, that's really impressive. I have been coaching 26 years and I don't know if I've seen as studly of a performance as that in all my coaching career.”
Moore claimed the title in the 1,500-meter run (3:54.58) as well as in the 800 meters (1:52.36). He was also part of the 4x400-meter relay squad that took fifth, helping Sam Houston to a runner-up finish and 147 points.
“How he went out and handled his business was amazing to watch,” Self said. “We knew he had a good chance to win one of the two. The wind helped out because it was a little bit more of a strategic race. He is almost always the fastest guy in the race, foot-speed wise.”
Meanwhile, Self's accolade is another notch in the belt for a coach that has helped shake the Bearkats into a power. That is no more so true that during the 2015-16 season which Sam Houston's men and women take three of four league titles and come in runner-up in the other.
While the award has his name on it, Self says, it is much more of a reflection of his staff and student athletes who have been putting in the work since Labor Day.
“The award goes to me and my name is on it but it really is a program award,” Self said. “It's going to my staff, especially, because I laugh all the time that I'm just the guy that shows up and signs the checks. The staff does immensely more work that I do; I'm just the guy that makes all the big decisions. It's the hard work that they put in that allows me to get that honor.”
With the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships one week earlier than most, the Bearkats will get some extra work in this Saturday, hosting a last chance meet. Roughly one month remains for individual competition but Self says he's proud of what the team accomplished.
“It was a historic year,” Self said. “It's been great because our kids see what it takes and understand. A lot of times, especially as competitive as our league is, you work so hard and now that you've done it, the culture is engrained. We go to the meet expecting to compete for a championship.”
