Mosloy Determines to Win By Ruth Gutierrez and Becky Griggs
With the everyday pressures of going to class, doing h o m e w o r k and getting good grades, w h o has time for anything else? Senior broadcast journalism major Gerald Mosley considers running track as a w a y of breaking the monotony of being a typical student. Gerald is a sprinter on the L U track team and competes regularly in the 100, 200, and 400 meter sprints. Gerald did not come from a sports-oriented family. H e has a family of two brothers and two sisters. O n e of his brothers w a s a fast runner like Gerald, but he did not pursue track as Gerald did. Gerald discovered his God-given ability during his sophomore year at Rustburg High School after his coach told him he had running talent. Gerald began to realize Photo by Tim Albertson his dream during his junior and senior year, w h e n he was n a m e d the "Athlete of the Year" for the Seminole his knee and had to have a knee scope. His hopes bega District. "Sports opened u p the doors for m e to succeed to diminish as the universities began to withdraw their in life," he said. offers. This is w h e n L U Track Coach Brant Tolsma decided to While Gerald was in high school, several Division I universities offered him a scholarship to run track. His take a chance and offer him a scholarship. "I was happy running career looked positive until he tore cartilage in to become part of the program," Gerald said. Gerald's ability to run well includes several factors. "The running starts w h e n you go to bed, because you need enough sleep (eight hours worth) to do well in track," he said. "Without it, no sprinter can do well." Eating habits also play a big part in running. Gerald's diet consists of salads, potatoes, chicken and eggs. "Runners must maintain a certain weight," he said. Memories of running track will always stay with Gerald. In his sophomore year he beat a third-year track runner in a regional track meet. It was the 100-meter sprint, and Gerald beat him by one second. "I felt like running the race again," he said. " I had the feeling that I couldn't stop." In 1990 he had the opportunity to run in front of 44,000 people at the Penn Relays which was reported by ESPN. "The emotion of the crowd was like the Olympics. W h e n you receive the baton into your hand, everything is focused on you," he said. "The pressure is unbelievable." Gerald is determined to be a winner, and he remembers the advice of his parents every day. "Never give up, even if you're in the dumps. Give 110 percent regardless of h o w bad you do. We're always on your side." Although Gerald would be content being a sportscaster, he sees his career in track. "I don't k n o w what I would do if I w o k e u p in the morning and there was no such thing as sports," he said. Gerald has some advice for future runners. "Never give u p and use a die-hard attitude," he said. Gerald shows us this attitude every day in his success as a runner.
Photo by Tim Albertson
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