Pasco: A scholar and an athlete

A scholar and an athlete

Many think Pam Moses can only cheer or ace tests, but the Zephyrhills senior is one of the county's top runners.

By JAMAL THALJI

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Don't typecast Pam Moses.

Don't stereotype her. Don't try to fit her in a neat little box. Just because you know one thing about her, doesn't mean you know everything about her.

It bothers her that students at Zephyrhills who know her as a cheerleader think she only cheerleads; that students who know her only as co-valedictorian think she only studies.

There's more to Moses. Something as vitally important to her as grades and school spirit.

Moses, 17, is an athlete. One of the best runners in Pasco County, in fact, and at today's Class 2A, Region 2 meet at Central's Bears Den, she hopes to prove she's one of the best in the state at the 800 meters.

"I'm a well-rounded person both academically and athletically," the senior said, "and some people don't think I'm the type of person to be a cheerleader, and be valedictorian and be in track as well.

"Some people in school think I'm more studious, that I'm not a cheerleader. They tell me I'm not the type to be an athlete. It just proves that I can do it all.

"They don't see it."

They haven't been looking.

Since her freshman year, Moses has excelled at the 800. She finished sixth in the state meet as a sophomore in a career-best 2 minutes, 21 seconds. A sprained right ankle hampered her junior season, yet she returned in time for the county meet and still qualified for state. This season, a healthy Moses has been chasing another state berth. Her best time this season in the 800 is 2:24.

She took second at the Sunshine Athletic Conference but won the event at the Class 2A, District 7 meet, where she also won the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches) and the 400 (61 seconds). At the SAC meet, she won the 400 and was fourth in the high jump.

Some track athletes need competition to motivate them. Zephyrhills girls coach Robin Wilks said all Moses needs is herself.

"Whether she's got competition or doesn't have competition," Wilks said, "she has the determination inside of her to really work and still at least go for the time or go for her goal.

"If she doesn't have competition, she somehow reaches inside. She has the determination inside and she never gives up. She always works at it."

This season will be it for Moses. In the fall, she'll be another zoology major at the University of Florida, and hopes to be an orthodontist one day. She's sound academically with a 4.369 GPA.

Physically, Wilks said, Moses is just as strong.

"I think Pam has a lot of natural ability, which doesn't hurt," Wilks said, "and Pam works hard at trying to improve the events she's in and she works year round at maintaining her endurance levels, so when we hit track season, she's able to improve upon her base. She's dedicated and works hard and makes the commitment. I think she's got it all. She's got the strength, speed and endurance."

Said Moses: "Well, I think I'm built to be a runner, strong and lean, and I've always been pretty fast, ever since elementary school. I've got some sprinting, enough to last the 400 and 800, but also the endurance to sprint the whole way around."

Moses' goal is to qualify for state in the 800 and high jump; whether she can make it in the 400, or will even try, will be determined by how far apart the events are.

Moses doesn't want to disturb her best event.

Neither does her coach.

"I'd like to see her make it to state," Wilks said. "She's been to state all three years so far, and I'd like to see her make it to state this year and compete and finish at the top."