on setting records, Moore ignored the problem and continued to press. Some have also suggested Moore lost focus. However, the effects of expectations and celebrity certainly were a factor on the 17 year old's life. After three months of abusing his body, he reached the point where he could barely walk, records and championships were out of the question. Moore aspired to go to nearby powerhouse University of Southern California, but his SAT and then ACT scores left him .1 point away from eligibility. In order to improve his academic standing Moore went first to Pasadena City College, then Long Beach City College. Further attempts took him across the continent to Morehouse College. Moore spent his time in injury rehabilitation. His heart and aspirations were still in Southern California. He left Morehouse a year later. The following year, Moore ended up at Life University, an NAIA college. After a successful and healthy fall training season, he entered the Pomona Pitzer Invitational, a tune up meet before the Mt. SAC Relays. Facing serious competition from people with marks equivalent to Moore's high school junior accomplishments, Moore pulled out of the race at the last minute. "He couldn't go to the line," recalls then Life University head coach Mark Spino. "If he just was even around, people had such high expectations of him, it was hard for him to start anyplace and very hard for him to have intermediary goals." References External links California State Records before 2000 1979 births Living people African-American male track and field athletes American male sprinters Track and field athletes from Los Angeles 21st-century African-American sportspeople 20th-century African-American sportspeople