Christian Miller is making a mark on the track and field circuit and he’s not done yet. He’s just getting warmed up.
On Saturday night, the reigning All-News4JAX track and field athlete of the year stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the best sprinters in the world ready for his shot at history.
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Miller, a recent Creekside High School graduate, ran a 10.22 in the 100-meter dash at the US Olympic Team Trials on Saturday night in Eugene, Oregon, finishing fifth in his heat and advancing to the semifinals. Another local Olympic hopeful and one of the most decorated sprinters in area history, Stanton graduate Kendal Williams, finished third in his heat (10.07) and advanced to the semifinals.
Miller, who is representing his St. Johns Striders club program, and Williams will compete Sunday at 8:48 p.m. with an opportunity to move on. The top two finishers in eight of the three semis, plus the next three fastest finishers advance to the final. That is Sunday night at 10:49.
Miller, 18, was a star attraction, with one of the commentators emphasizing just how big of an accomplishment it was for the University of Georgia signee.
“Creekside High School in St. Johns, Florida, I hope you’re watching because this kid on your screen who goes to your school has been an absolute phenomenon.”
Miller was slow out of the blocks but used his closing speed to catch back up and edge out Iowa’s Kalen Walker (10.23) for the fifth spot. Miller’s time ranked 21st overall.
Just qualifying for the trials was remarkable in itself. Miller is one of nine athletes there who are in high school or fresh from it to have qualified. He did it by running a time of 9.93 at the Pure Athletics Spring Invitational in Clermont last April. It is the third-fastest time by an athlete under 20. Miller is also competing in the 200. The first round for that is 10:33 p.m. on Thursday.