Published: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
WINTER HAVEN | The speedy dreams of runner Jeremy Criscione and coach Rick Moody have become one.
Criscione, 23, who moved to Bartow in August, wants to run in the Olympics.
Moody, 34, of Lakeland wants to coach an Olympic athlete.
After the New York City half marathon March 20, the two are closer to their dreams of making the Olympics.
Criscione, who grew up in Interlachen, ran the half in 1:04:28 with the assistance of Moody's coaching, qualifying him for the marathon at the United States Olympic Trials, which will be in Houston in January 2012.
Now the two are in a parallel dream, taking steps together every day to achieve the next milestone along their Olympic path.
For Criscone, his journey began at Interlachen High School and gained steam when he earned a scholarship to the University of Florida, where he earned All-American status.
For Moody, the dream began while he was growing up in Bartow running track and cross country among other sports. He continued running at Webber International and later coached at several local high schools and at Webber and Florida Southern.
The dreams of the two collided when Moody took former Webber runner A.J. Richmond to the Suncoast Classic race in St. Petersburg in February 2010.
Richmond finished the race not far behind a runner who trained for the Hansons-Brooks, an Olympic development program run by Hanson brothers Keith and Kevin out of Michigan.
The Brooks brothers and Moody started talking. After a second meeting between the trio, a partnership was formed.
Moody would become the South team of Hansons-Brooks, coaching Olympic hopefuls in the Central Florida area.
His coaching future was brightening.
"The goal I've had is to coach Olympians," Moody said. "You've got to have the right network and the right athletes. Jeremy is a special athlete. Most people don't get to coach an athlete like Jeremy. He came in when we didn't have anything. I feel honored and blessed to have him. Being an Olympic coach is a pretty big deal to have on your resume."
Criscione, moved to Bartow to train under Moody.
"I'm really comfortable with his training," Criscione said. "What he believes in is the same thing as I do."
The two trained through two injuries, resulting in a victory in the Gasparilla 15K.
They geared toward the New York City Half Marathon, which is a qualifier for the Olympic trials.
Criscione finished 26th, 32 seconds under the qualifying time, in his first half marathon since the fall of his junior year with Florida.
He plans to continue to train and build his mileage base in the area for the coming months to prepare for Houston, where he will run his first full marathon.
"I'm not really afraid of the distance," he said. "As long as I'm prepared."
Qualifying for the Olympics with the name of Hansons-Brooks means a brighter future for Moody and Criscione.
"It's very beneficial to work with a program that has some prestige to it," Moody said. "Jeremy gave me some reassurance in my philosophy. A runner with success pulls others in."
For Criscione, it means perhaps earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and all the benefits that go with it.
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