All-Star Spotlight Q&A with South Western's Lynne Mooradian
On a mobile device? Click here to watch the video
The name Lynne Mooradian rang through the loudspeaker of Dallastown's football stadium four times at the YAIAA track and field championships. Every time, the PA announcer declared her as a league champion.
The South Western junior won league titles in the 100-meter dash, 200 dash, 400 dash and 300 intermediate hurdles, doing so by significant margins every time.
She followed that by earning District 3 medals in the 300 hurdles (third place), 200 dash (fifth) and 100 dash (fifth) and a PIAA state championship medals in the 300 hurdles (sixth) and 100 dash (eighth).
Vote for GameTimePA.com Spring Athlete of the Year
You compete in so many events, but which event is your favorite?
That's actually a really tough question. Since my freshman year I've always loved the 400 dash the most. Although it was extremely difficult, and I always cramped up afterward, I liked the challenge. This year I started running the 300 hurdles, which were just as difficult and challenging as a 400 dash. The addition of hurdles made the 300 hurdles just a little bit more interesting than the 400 dash, so I would have to say that the 300 hurdles are now my absolute favorite.
What other sports do you play?
I run cross country in the fall, and now I swim during the winter. I used to play basketball, but I decided to try swimming this past winter so I could avoid an injury; I sustained a stress fracture from basketball my sophomore year and wasn't out of the boot until the first day of track practice.
How did joining the swim team help with track and field?
Swimming was the perfect choice for me. It gave me an extremely difficult cardio workout without the constant stress on my legs from running. I used to always get shin splints during track but that didn't happen this year, which I like to attribute to swimming. Also, swimming really strengthened my upper body which gave me that extra push I needed in the 300 hurdles and 400 dash when my legs started to get tired and fail me.
See the rest of the GameTimePA.com YAIAA girls' track and field all-stars
How old were you when you realized for the first time that you were exceptionally fast?
I did gymnastics from age 4 until the seventh grade, so I always knew I was athletic. While I was in gymnastics, I used to do Kids Night at the Races every May, and since I kept winning I realized I was pretty fast. After I got out of gymnastics and joined the middle school track team I realized I was a sprinter and never looked back. I wouldn't say I'm exceptionally fast, though. I like to think of myself as versatile.
You qualified for the National Junior Olympics in the heptathlon last year but chose not to go. Is that something you would consider trying to compete at in the future?
Sadly, I've kind of lost my opportunity to compete at Junior Olympics again. Due to my schedule this summer it isn't feasible, and next summer I'll likely be preparing for college. I would have loved to try to make it to Nationals again, though.
How do you plan to advance your track career after high school?
I'm hoping to run track at a Division I college as either a sprinter, hurdler or a heptathlete.
Rapid fire now, what's your favorite food?
Sushi
Favorite subject in school?
I love physics.
If you could be any animal what would you be?
A cheetah, because it's wicked fast of course.
Click here to explore the complete spring all-star series