Gary Moore Breaks State Shot-Put Record

Gary Moore Jr. headed into one of his final meets in a Hillhouse jersey Wednesday with pressure on his back and dozens of people surrounding the throwing area. He knew he had a lot of people to impress. More importantly, he knew he had a state record to break. 

“Breaking records are meant for the end of the season,” Moore stated. It was the end of the regular season. And, in his final opportunity before the state championship tournament, he broke the state record.

Moore has been a star on Hillhouse High School’s track team since his freshman year, and has impressed fans all over the region since then. He has committed to attend Baylor University (click here to read more) this coming fall to further his track and academic career at the Division I level. 

Moore participated in all throwing events at Wednesday’s Southern Connecticut Conference competition held at Bowen Field. He won the javelin, discus, and shot put, racking in 30 points for the team.

The shot put is his speciality. Moore was the top seed in the meet with a distance in the shot-put of 63 – 08.25 feet. It was no surprise that he remained number one. 

There were 30 throwers in total Wednesday from high school teams throughout southern Connecticut, with 10 throwers in each flight. Moore was placed in the last flight. 

Moore threw 62 – 08.00, 64 – 00.00, and 63 – 09.50 feet in his first three attempts. His performance didn’t break the record, but it led him to qualify for event finals. The finals round also consists of three attempts. 

Heading into the circle for meet finals, Moore seemed surprisingly calm. He got set up and did just what he was going for: Moore threw 66 – 04.25, a personal and Connecticut record, which perviously stood at 64 feet, 1 1/4 inches. 

He celebrated the big throw alongside his teammates and coaches, who all were beaming with joy and cheering loudly. 

Athletes and spectators from each school were in awe of what Moore had just done, and applauded for him as if he was from their own school. 

In previous years, Moore and the rest of the Hillhouse throwing squad would do more than just throw; they would also participate in relays at each track meet. This season, they decided to step back and focus solely on throwing. This included lifting four times a week, instead of whenever they had the time to. They attributed their success to the grit and determination they put in this past season, as they grew both mentally and physically stronger. 

The team chemistry helped, too: They cheer each other on, and visibly want the best for their team. 

“Talking to my teammates really helps calm me down before a big meet,” Moore said, ​“We are a really close group.” They motivate each other, and offer each other good advice, he said. 

Moore will be heading to Baylor University to continue throwing this fall, where he will go from Bulldog to Bear. Excited to improve in college, he is soaking up the last moments of his Hillhouse senior year before making the big transition to the south.

In coming weeks, he will compete in the SCC championships and state championships, as well as nationals.

“I just have to keep on breaking records,” Moore said. He’s already done that with the state record. Now he has personal records to break.