Christian Miller has had an exciting season so far. After turning heads at the Pure Athletics Invitational in April, the 18-year-old found himself at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in June. Roughly a month out of high school, the sprinter was already paving the way for an incredibly bright future. The Jacksonville native was looking forward to making his Olympic debut in the French capital, but in the men’s 100m finals, he finished fifth leaving his dream hanging by a thread.
The fastest high schooler still held on to his hopes of making it to the 4x100m team. However, he soon found out he won’t be making the trip to Paris. Even after receiving this heartbreaking news, he shifted his focus to preparing for LA2028. But on July 26, the sprinter shared some exciting news with his fans on Instagram. The 18-year-old will now be focusing on being a full-time track and field athlete. He captioned the post, “My story has just begun…Dreams2️⃣Reality❤️” The USATF U20 champion doesn’t want to let go of the track just yet!
Looking back on his journey so far, Miller stated, “I want to start by thanking God for the amazing opportunities that have opened up for me over the past few weeks.” He then thanks his support system for helping him navigate through all the highs and lows, leading him to this decision. “Also, thank you to the University of Georgia’s staff, student athletes, and my fellow recruits for their support and professionalism. I will always be a Bulldog at heart.” The sprinter finally sheds some light on what the future holds for him.
Christian Miller then drops the ball, “After weeks of consultation with my family, mentors, and coaches, I have decided to forgo my NCAA eligibility and pursue a professional career as a full-time track and field athlete. I’m excited for what comes next and can’t wait to bring you all on this journey with me.” Post his record-breaking performances in 2023, several college coaches were looking to have him on their squad. The Jacksonville native eventually settled for the University of Georgia.
At the historic Hayward Field, the fastest high schooler stepped on the track to solidify himself as the one to beat. In the 100m heats, he sprinted to the finish line in 10.22 seconds, securing a place in the semi-finals. He turned things around in the semi-finals with a stellar time of 9.94 seconds. With this, he was one step closer to achieving his first Olympic berth. However, he soon realized, it wasn’t meant to be. His time of 9.98 seconds wasn’t good enough for the French capital.
Refusing to let this hold him back, Christian Miller will continue to shatter the glass ceiling as he looks to dominate the tracks from here on. He will be moving forward with his long-time coach at the St. Johns Striders Track Club, Ricky Fields. It is undeniable that the 18-year-old has left his mark at the trials, and won’t stop reaching for the stars.
Christian Miller shares one common factor with his competition. Athletes like Erriyon Knighton and Noah Lyles had exception high school seasons too. Just like the 18-year-old, they decided to turn professional instead of pursuing a collegiate career. With his decision to continue as a professional athlete, we might get the chance to witness his impeccable talent on the track. Seeing how he has already crossed paths with several track stars this season, what does the future hold for him?
Leave a Reply