Reading 32
Brigithe Moreno: Just Me and the Road
by Jeff Berlinicke
8/30/2005
TAMPA – Of all the sports, is there a lonelier, more solitary one
than cross country? There are no hand offs, plays, or huddles.
Once the race begins, it’s just the runner, step after step, running
among the leaves, rocks, dirt, up and over hills--no cheerleaders, no marching bands.
For Brigithe Moreno, it’s even lonelier than for most. Moreno, a sophomore at Plant High School with all
the talent in the world and dreams to match, barely even has the teammates or the coaching staff at
the finish line. Sure, she is the best runner on a strong Plant cross country team and a state contender
in outdoor events as well, but Moreno barely speaks English and works out alone, meeting with her
teammates only during meets.
Her coach at Plant, Roy Harrison, said he is rarely able to speak to Moreno because she doesn’t practice
with the team and receives all of her coaching from her father, Angel. Angel Moreno has great
credentials. He was a world-class distance runner for Mexico in the marathon, and Brigithe feels most
comfortable listening to his advice. So she goes at it alone, step after solitary step, representing Plant
High School and her father at the same time.
Brigithe said that’s how she likes it best.
”My dad sets goals for me and always tells me if I do my work and listens to him I can have anything,’’
Brigithe said. “It’s difficult to run with a group. It’s more exciting and more fun by myself. I like to run
alone and only with my dad.’’
As long as the results are there, Harrison said it’s no problem even if the situation can be slightly
unusual.
”She just doesn’t run with us,’’ Harrison said. “It’s the first time in 23 years of coaching I’ve ever had
a situation like this, but she and her father know what they are doing. It might be awkward for the
other girls on the team, but this is a special situation. She’s just at a higher level than her teammates.’’
Last season as a freshman, Brigithe finished third in the state Class 3A meet, eight seconds behind
winner Kelly Parrish of Vanguard High. Parrish returns as a senior this year, but Moreno has her sights
set on a state title. Her father said she has the ability to do it and Brigithe isn’t about to disagree.
”I can win states,’’ Brigithe said. “It might be tough because so many girls are good, but my father said
I can win and that’s our goal.’’
For now, states in cross country is the first thing on her mind, but she is more excited about the spring
outdoor season. She said she prefers outdoor to cross country and made a mark in states last spring.
She ran the 4x800 relay for Plant’s 16th place team, and finished third in the 3,200.
Harrison said he expects Moreno to improve upon her times in cross country and the 3,200 this year
because of her ability to block out the field and all other interferences.
”She is so mentally tough,’’ Harrison said. “She is unbreakable in races. You can’t break her mentally.
That’s how she trains and that’s what makes her tough. She can block out anything and just can’t be
broken.’’
Brigithe doesn’t do the normal AAU circuit during the summer. Harrison doesn’t get to do much coaching
with Brigithe, but he applauds Angel’s decision to let his daughter have the summer off, at least in the
competitive circuit.
”I think running AAU all summer is the worst thing anyone can do,’’ Harrison said. “All it does is burn you
out. Brigithe doesn’t need that.’’
For her part, Brigithe said she isn’t even thinking about future plans. Her goals are all set for the next
year and she said there’s no thought whatsoever to college or the Olympics. She started running at the
age of nine and has always taken it year to year. She is just as interested in acclimating to America as
she is to winning states. A solid student at Plant, she admits English is her hardest subject, but she’s
working hard at it, almost as hard as she is at winning that state title this year.
It’s quite a burden, trying to take it on alone, but Brigithe is just taking it one single, solitary step at a
time.
by Jeff Berlinicke
8/30/2005
TAMPA – Of all the sports, is there a lonelier, more solitary one
than cross country? There are no hand offs, plays, or huddles.
Once the race begins, it’s just the runner, step after step, running
among the leaves, rocks, dirt, up and over hills--no cheerleaders, no marching bands.
For Brigithe Moreno, it’s even lonelier than for most. Moreno, a sophomore at Plant High School with all
the talent in the world and dreams to match, barely even has the teammates or the coaching staff at
the finish line. Sure, she is the best runner on a strong Plant cross country team and a state contender
in outdoor events as well, but Moreno barely speaks English and works out alone, meeting with her
teammates only during meets.
Her coach at Plant, Roy Harrison, said he is rarely able to speak to Moreno because she doesn’t practice
with the team and receives all of her coaching from her father, Angel. Angel Moreno has great
credentials. He was a world-class distance runner for Mexico in the marathon, and Brigithe feels most
comfortable listening to his advice. So she goes at it alone, step after solitary step, representing Plant
High School and her father at the same time.
Brigithe said that’s how she likes it best.
”My dad sets goals for me and always tells me if I do my work and listens to him I can have anything,’’
Brigithe said. “It’s difficult to run with a group. It’s more exciting and more fun by myself. I like to run
alone and only with my dad.’’
As long as the results are there, Harrison said it’s no problem even if the situation can be slightly
unusual.
”She just doesn’t run with us,’’ Harrison said. “It’s the first time in 23 years of coaching I’ve ever had
a situation like this, but she and her father know what they are doing. It might be awkward for the
other girls on the team, but this is a special situation. She’s just at a higher level than her teammates.’’
Last season as a freshman, Brigithe finished third in the state Class 3A meet, eight seconds behind
winner Kelly Parrish of Vanguard High. Parrish returns as a senior this year, but Moreno has her sights
set on a state title. Her father said she has the ability to do it and Brigithe isn’t about to disagree.
”I can win states,’’ Brigithe said. “It might be tough because so many girls are good, but my father said
I can win and that’s our goal.’’
For now, states in cross country is the first thing on her mind, but she is more excited about the spring
outdoor season. She said she prefers outdoor to cross country and made a mark in states last spring.
She ran the 4x800 relay for Plant’s 16th place team, and finished third in the 3,200.
Harrison said he expects Moreno to improve upon her times in cross country and the 3,200 this year
because of her ability to block out the field and all other interferences.
”She is so mentally tough,’’ Harrison said. “She is unbreakable in races. You can’t break her mentally.
That’s how she trains and that’s what makes her tough. She can block out anything and just can’t be
broken.’’
Brigithe doesn’t do the normal AAU circuit during the summer. Harrison doesn’t get to do much coaching
with Brigithe, but he applauds Angel’s decision to let his daughter have the summer off, at least in the
competitive circuit.
”I think running AAU all summer is the worst thing anyone can do,’’ Harrison said. “All it does is burn you
out. Brigithe doesn’t need that.’’
For her part, Brigithe said she isn’t even thinking about future plans. Her goals are all set for the next
year and she said there’s no thought whatsoever to college or the Olympics. She started running at the
age of nine and has always taken it year to year. She is just as interested in acclimating to America as
she is to winning states. A solid student at Plant, she admits English is her hardest subject, but she’s
working hard at it, almost as hard as she is at winning that state title this year.
It’s quite a burden, trying to take it on alone, but Brigithe is just taking it one single, solitary step at a
time.
