Long strides, quick feet help Bonney Lake’s Miller dominate hurdles
Cody Miller is a step ahead of the competition in the Class 3A hurdles events.
With each hurdle in front of him, Bonney Lake High’s big junior seemingly passes them with ease, one effortless stride after another. Miller makes the hurdles look easy.
“(Right now) I’m just trying to work on my starts and getting out of the block faster,” Miller said. “There’s not a whole lot I can fix mechanically. I’m just working on the little things that put you over.”
We’re trying to create a hurdling dynasty here. Everyone on the (hurdling) team is returning next year, and we feel that it’s our job to keep this event for the team strong.
Cody Miller
In a race where speed and agility are demanded, Miller stands above the 3A competition in the 110-meter high hurdles. Standing at 6-foot-5, the junior’s long strides and quick feet have helped him stand among the top in the classification in the state.
Entering the week, Miller ranked second in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.39 seconds, a personal mark he set while winning the event last week at the SPSL sub-district meet at Sunset Chev Stadium.
The results last week could be considered the start of something great for Bonney Lake’s boys hurdles team.
“We’re trying to create a hurdling dynasty here,” Miller said. “Everyone on the (hurdling) team is returning next year, and we feel that it’s our job to keep this event for the team strong.”
For now, it’s all about Miller and his results. The team will catch up with its emerging star once sprinters like junior Isaiah Brooks catch up to him.
“With runners returning like Isaiah and the younger guys coming up, I feel we can be out front of everybody else,” Miller added.
For now, the goal for Miller and Bonney Lake hurdles coach James Henderson is to make the rising Panther track star a complete runner.
“He has such long strides, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t start as fast out of the block. He keeps getting faster over the race, and once he hits those last few hurdles, he takes off,” Henderson said. “He’s already at the top in the 110 (hurdles), so we’re just working on getting his time in the 300 under 40 (seconds).”
Miller’s top time in the 300 hurdles is 40.39 seconds, ranked fifth in the district entering the week.
He has such long strides, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t start as fast out of the block. He keeps getting faster over the race, and once he hits those last few hurdles, he takes off.
Bonney Lake hurdler coach James Henderson
Bonney Lake head track coach Andy Foster always values the boys and girls relay teams. Last year, the boys 4x400 relay team finished in third place at state with a time of 3:23.87, and adding a sprinter of Miller’s status could put any of the relays over the top.
“We’re trying to work him into the relay this week (at sub-districts), and next week before we head to districts,” Foster said. “Everyone on the team is on board with working with him, because he can really add something to the team. It’s just getting him comfortable with handoffs.”
If Miller joins the relays, it’s up to him.
Right now, Miller is on board knowing the challenge is only going to make him and his Bonney Lake team better.
“It’s fun to be able to run on the relay teams because it’s the only team aspect of track,” Miller said. “That’s why I would love to run with them.”
But there’s a love Miller has dedicated himself to even more: the dynasty Bonney Lake hopes to create.
“This year it may just be me (right now), but next look out for Bonney Lake’s hurdlers,” he said.
Kevin Manning: 253-256-7042, @herald_kmanning
This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Long strides, quick feet help Bonney Lake’s Miller dominate hurdles."