City's Robert Miller has some lofty goals for college and beyond.
He wants to work in the engineering and technology field, and even looks at Google as a possible landing spot. He might be on the right path, considering the number of Ivy League schools that have shown interest in him.
Miller, a junior, said his academics have never been stronger — and he's one of the state's budding track athletes, too.
This winter, Miller earned his first Class 3A state championship — a personal-best 7.46 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles — since his freshman year. That determination comes from his academic success, he said.
As a result, he's never felt better heading into an outdoor season.
"I have a lot of ground to make up," said Miller, who should figure into the title talks for outdoor hurdles, as well as the 200 and maybe a relay. "It goes back to that focus. Last year, I can't even tell you what happened. This year, I know what definitely helped me focus more was actually school. I came into 11th grade knowing that this needed to be my best academic year."
Miller entered City without much of an idea of where track could take him. He knew he liked to run, and those around him saw mammoth potential, but there wasn't much of a direction at first.
His first indoor season was successful. After winning a Baltimore City and 3A Central Region title in the 55-meter dash, he finished second at states. In the 300, he won the city, finished third in the region and eighth in the state.
He also finished second in the city, first in the region and fourth in the state in the hurdles, his strongest event.
That success translated well to the outdoor circuit, where he collected state titles in the 100-meter dash — in which he went undefeated for the season — and the 110 hurdles.
From there, he started to earn recognition as one of the area's premier track athletes, and dreams of taking his talents past the high school arena didn't seem so unlikely anymore.
"The feeling that I got, that I can actually run, do something I love and make a living of it was phenomenal," he said. "The best feeling ever, really."
Since that point, however, Miller had failed to earn another gold medal on the state's largest stage until this winter.
He came close — including second-place performances last indoor season in the 55-meter dash, 300- and 55-meter hurdles — but still couldn't find the winning formula he had early in his career.
Last spring wasn't much better. He finished fifth at states in the 100, third in the 200 and 20th in the 110 hurdles, which he was able to earn a city title in.
City coach Michael Hamilton said Miller is on a workout program that has him training virtually every day to make up the difference.
Miller is determined to make this outdoor season his best, and his coach said those around the state shouldn't take the runner lightly.
"We haven't had someone as talented as Robert," Hamilton said, noting City's prosperous track and field past. "We're doing what we can to expose Robert to the best of the best out there."
While Maryland doesn't sanction the 400-meter hurdles, Hamilton has begun enlisting Miller in invitationals that run the event. He's not only racing to get better times and marks; Miller is racing toward a future, and his coach is trying to make sure his top athlete has the best opportunity to achieve those goals.
"It feels good to coach when you have a kid who wants to excel in the sport," Hamilton said. "I see Robert's determination and I did see that light bulb go off when he got his first letter" from a college.
Early in his high school career, Miller didn't see the value in becoming a better leader. He wasn't being selfish — he was simply trying to be the best athlete he could be, and focusing on getting better was his No. 1 priority.
Of course, he's matured since then. He's learned the value in working with his teammates and being thought of as someone they can go to for help.
It's not only made him a better runner; it's helped the program as a whole.
"I accepted it more this year where I actually had people looking up to me," he said. "I realized I couldn't be too playful around them, especially during practice."
Whether it's perfecting his skills in the classroom or on the track, Miller's ambition is driving him. With college coaches likely keeping a close eye on City's top runner this spring, they'll also see a team that has improved.
"I can honestly say, I tell them all the time, they have re-established respect on the track at City College," Hamilton said. "I think that goes a long way to say that Robert has had a lot to do with it."