Most people know junior Ammar Moussa only to be incredibly and superhumanly fast. Just last month, he placed first in his race at CIF Finals, first at State, and fourth at Nike Nationals. He broke the 15-minute three-mile barrier at State, a feat accomplished only twice in the last ten years. However, few others know much more about him.
In fact, it is because of the brilliance of his achievements that few besides his teammates really understand who he is and the kind of character and work it takes to attain that level of skill.
When asked what he felt like was the greatest aspect of Ammar’s attitude, Assistant Coach Alex Fan responded, “From day one with Ammar we saw that he was as competitive a person as you can find. We had never had a kid compete the way he does. Many of the kids on our team hadn't had much competitive athletic backgrounds before they joined cross country so it takes them a while longer to develop that tenacity that Ammar has. We have always said that with him, you better be a ton better than him if you want to beat him because he will outrace and out-grit anyone that is even close to his level.” Senior Patrick Wrobel agreed with Coach Fan, but added, “He is also a very intelligent racer. He doesn't front run. Instead, he waits until the moment he knows he can drop the opposition. At the state meet with 800 meters to go, he picked it up considerably and the other racer who had been challenging him all race fell behind.”
However, the titan of cross country is not without fault, either. Coach Fan was quick to qualify his statement, saying, “We have seen that as Ammar cares more and more about the team aspect of running, he has become faster and faster as an individual. He knows that the faster he runs, the more it will help the team. He had a great leader to follow when Renaud Poizat was around and now he has to be that guy on the team that everyone else will follow.” In other words, as a leader, Ammar still has room to grow, and figures, like the legendary Renaud Poizat, a cross country alumnus currently attending UC Berkeley, to emulate. Ammar recognized his opportunity for leadership, when he reflected, “I think it helps that I have success in races, and I sometimes feel that gives the guys motivation to have their own individual successes.” Ammar had more to add in the way of areas he could improve when he sheepishly admitted, “I also try to be less cocky and not let rankings get to my head.”
And then there is the question that all of us sedentary, future Rascal chair-using common folk ask: “Why run?” Upon being asked this question, Ammar paused, reflected, laughed, and said, “It's hard to really describe what motivates me, and I get this question a lot. I think the best answer is that I run to compete, push my body to new limits, and to prove others wrong.” Of course, he did not accomplish it all alone, and he couldn’t have done it without his family. “My family has been my rock,” Ammar said. “My mom is the one who makes sure I get all the good food. My brother and father are always at meets, cheering me on and being there for me even when I don't race my best.”
In fact, it is because of the brilliance of his achievements that few besides his teammates really understand who he is and the kind of character and work it takes to attain that level of skill.
When asked what he felt like was the greatest aspect of Ammar’s attitude, Assistant Coach Alex Fan responded, “From day one with Ammar we saw that he was as competitive a person as you can find. We had never had a kid compete the way he does. Many of the kids on our team hadn't had much competitive athletic backgrounds before they joined cross country so it takes them a while longer to develop that tenacity that Ammar has. We have always said that with him, you better be a ton better than him if you want to beat him because he will outrace and out-grit anyone that is even close to his level.” Senior Patrick Wrobel agreed with Coach Fan, but added, “He is also a very intelligent racer. He doesn't front run. Instead, he waits until the moment he knows he can drop the opposition. At the state meet with 800 meters to go, he picked it up considerably and the other racer who had been challenging him all race fell behind.”
However, the titan of cross country is not without fault, either. Coach Fan was quick to qualify his statement, saying, “We have seen that as Ammar cares more and more about the team aspect of running, he has become faster and faster as an individual. He knows that the faster he runs, the more it will help the team. He had a great leader to follow when Renaud Poizat was around and now he has to be that guy on the team that everyone else will follow.” In other words, as a leader, Ammar still has room to grow, and figures, like the legendary Renaud Poizat, a cross country alumnus currently attending UC Berkeley, to emulate. Ammar recognized his opportunity for leadership, when he reflected, “I think it helps that I have success in races, and I sometimes feel that gives the guys motivation to have their own individual successes.” Ammar had more to add in the way of areas he could improve when he sheepishly admitted, “I also try to be less cocky and not let rankings get to my head.”
And then there is the question that all of us sedentary, future Rascal chair-using common folk ask: “Why run?” Upon being asked this question, Ammar paused, reflected, laughed, and said, “It's hard to really describe what motivates me, and I get this question a lot. I think the best answer is that I run to compete, push my body to new limits, and to prove others wrong.” Of course, he did not accomplish it all alone, and he couldn’t have done it without his family. “My family has been my rock,” Ammar said. “My mom is the one who makes sure I get all the good food. My brother and father are always at meets, cheering me on and being there for me even when I don't race my best.”