Obea Moore

Who is Obea Moore?

William Obea Moore is a former American sprinter. Particularly excelling in the 400 metres, Moore holds the World Youth Best in this event. He was expected to be the next great American quarter miler, to follow Michael Johnson as Olympic champion, but never lived up to the expectations.

Starting as an eight-year old, running for the Los Angeles Jets youth club under coach James Robinson, Moore went on to set American youth records in the Bantam, the Midget, the Youth, and the Intermediate division —some of which are still standing—, adding the 200 metres record in the Intermediate division, and was part of the 4 × 400 metres relay team in the Youth division.

Moore ran for John Muir High School in Pasadena, California, though his mother arranged for him to continue to run under Robinson. His freshman year, his team won the CIF California State Meet 4x400 relay. In 1995, his sophomore year, Moore won the 400, beating future World Champion, Tyree Washington by a half a second. He was also second in the 200 and again anchored his team to winning the relay in remarkable come from behind fashion. Later in the season, he represented the United States at the 1995 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in Santiago, Chile, where he set the still standing World Youth Best in the 400 metres at 45.14.