Hoeck: Freeman Academy’s Miller Recalls Record Run In ‘82 State Meet

It wasn’t that long ago that Miller was competing on those kinds of surfaces as a record-breaking track star at Freeman Academy High School. And yet, at the same time, a lot has changed for the now 51-year-old former two-time Olympian.

“My knees and ankles are pretty beat up from those tracks,” Miller recalled by phone Tuesday from California, where he lives and co-owns – with his wife – a day spa and wellness center.

Miller, who came to the United States in 1978 from his native Dominica with his adopted parents, Terry and Ingrid Miller, quickly became a 3-sport standout at Freeman Academy – a highly-sought after Division I recruit in soccer and track, as well as basketball.

It was on those asphalt tracks, however, where Miller made his mark on the South Dakota record books.

The date was May 21, 1982. The location was Brandon. The setting was the S.D. State Class B Track Meet.

Miller, who already owned the state’s top time in the 400-meter dash, clocked a preliminary time of 47.8, a performance that to this day – 33 years later – still ranks as the all-time best.

That record, which was nearly broken a decade ago, could fall this weekend. In an odd twist of fate, or perhaps only a coincidence, Freeman High School senior Brennan Schmidt has come perilously close to breaking Miller’s time, as he enters this weekend’s S.D. State Track Meet with a time 48.1 in the 400-meter dash.

Approached this week about Schmidt’s pursuit of the record, Miller – who, yes, was aware of Schmidt’s exploits – credited more than once the competition he faced in the area for his performance.

“The fact that my record still stands is sort of a credit to their efforts and the competitive environment I found myself in,” Miller said.

Not exactly shying away from his own competitive fire, Miller remembers that his goals for his senior season in 1982 were clear-cut: He was out for more.

“I set a goal to break every meet record I ran at, and I did,” he said. “I didn’t want anyone to beat me. That was my mindset.

“I wanted to dominate every race all season.”

High school track at the time, while still years away from electronic timing, didn’t feature in-season qualifying, like there is today. What that meant was South Dakota athletes had to rely solely on region performances to qualify for state – much like Nebraska uses now with the district meets.

Breezing his way through regions, Miller turned his attention to the state meet in Brandon.

“Running a sub-48, that was a big deal,” he said.

It was a cool Friday afternoon in Brandon that day.

Miller, as he remembers now, wasn’t so much focused on the 400-meter dash as he was to break the state record in the 200-meter dash. Slotted in lane two of the 400 prelims next to Colome’s Brad Vaughan (the reigning 100-meter dash champion), Miller was suddenly provided all the motivation he needed.

“I was annoyed that he was in the 400,” Miller recalled, managing a chuckle.

The stage was set for an epic showdown.

“My goal was to make sure I was even with him in the first 100 meters, to send a message, like, ‘You’ll have to work really hard to beat me,’” Miller said.

It didn’t take long for Miller to catch up to Vaughan, and once he was out front, the Bobcats standout never slowed down.

“On the back end, I heard the crowd reacting, so I thought he was catching up to me,” Miller said. “I dug deeper.”

Yet, the harder Miller pushed himself, the crowd noise intensified, reaching a fever pitch as he rounded the final turn.

“I literally thought he was coming up on me,” Miller said. “I didn’t want anyone to beat me.”

Nobody did, and Miller had crossed the finish line with a time – from a stopwatch, of course – of 47.8 The downside of his record, however, was that Miller had suffered an injury, serious enough to keep him out of the next day’s finals – he was on crutches, cheering on his teammates.

That record-breaking Friday afternoon was far from the highlight of Miller’s track career, however. No, not even close.

Spurning offers from Harvard and Notre Dame, Miller eventually decided to attend Yale University, where he was a 4-year track standout and 4-time Ivy League champion.

“My grandmother told me I could turn down one Ivy League school, but not two,” Miller joked.

Two years after crossing the finish line in Brandon, Miller was competing in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, for Antigua and Barbuda. Four years later, he was back in the Summer Olympics, competing in Seoul, South Korea, for Antigua and Barbuda.

From those rough early years in his native Dominica, Miller skyrocketed to track fame in 10 short years. And yet, in South Dakota athletic lore, he is still most associated with his high school record – particularly this year, with Schmidt chasing that time.

“I do hear from people in the spring time when the record is being threatened,” Miller said. “In retrospect, I would have never imagined it would stand this long.

“The track facilities are so much better now.”

Ten years ago, Miller’s record saw its most serious threat. Sayfe Jassim of Sioux Falls Lincoln clocked a 47.9 in the 400-meter dash, coming just short of the record. Miller said he got the opportunity to meet Jassim that spring, and remembers the Lincoln standout being gracious.

Now, the record chase belongs to Schmidt. He leads Class B with his qualifying time of 48.1 and will have two chances in Rapid City this weekend to better that mark.

“I definitely wish him well,” Miller said, adding that he’ll be following the results from California. “It’s neat that it’s a Freeman kid.

“Every 10 years or so, someone comes up and challenges it.”

And Miller knows all about that pursuit.

“Chasing a record, it can be fun if you break it,” Miller said, chuckling. “It’s not as much fun if you’re that close and don’t quite get there.”

Does Schmidt have a chance at the record?

“I definitely think he does,” Miller said. “He’s been on the track scene for a few years, so I’m sure the expectations have been there.”

The one difference between Miller’s 1982 season and Schmidt’s 2015 season is that Miller was certainly pushed more in the area. He vividly remembers running against the Tiefenthaler brothers (Dennis and Jeff) from Armour, while Schmidt on the other hand has easily won his races more times than he has been pushed.

“The record is wonderful; it’s great, but I benefited tremendously from being surrounded by great athletes,” Miller said. “It was great for me to be in the area at that time.”

Because, just as he found out that chilly May day in Brandon, Miller – and athletes of his caliber – thrive when faced with like competition.

“For most of these guys chasing these records, they need to find a competitive environment to grow,” Miller said. “Without that steady diet of competition, it’s hard to maintain.”

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