By Owen Gotimer
LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief
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Sterling (September 20, 2015) — Dominion High School senior Calvin Miller has made a commitment to run cross country and track at Christopher Newport University beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.
“Throughout high school I have pictured senior year being very stressful because of classes, applications, figuring out which college I want to attend and just thinking about what I want to do with my future,” the 6-foot-3 Miller said. “It is kind of refreshing already knowing where I’m going to go and what I’ll be doing when fall comes around next year. Now, I can really focus on running and making my last year in high school amazing.”
Miller is already out to a solid start in making his final season of high school cross country a success. On September 12, Miller ran the ninth fastest time (17:42) at the Judges Classic in Winchester topping his 14th place finish (16:37) at the Great Meadow Invitational on August 30 in The Plains.
“My team and I have been putting in a lot of work this summer, and I believe we will be a strong force this season,” Miller said. “There is no doubt in my mind that the Titans are capable of making it to states this year and becoming the best team in our school’s history. It would be great to end my time at Dominion with an all-state title for cross country or track. I work for this goal every day and begin every run with the end in mind.”
While the end is near, the start is just beginning as Miller must now prepare to step up his game while running at the next level for the Division III Captains.
In CNU’s season opener at the CNU XC Opener in Richmond, the Captains men’s team – aided by head coach Matthew Barreau and Broad Run High School graduate Dane Boegner (2014) – placed second.
“I believe that my hard work and determination will help strengthen the program at CNU. I have also been captain of the cross country and track team at Dominion the past two years, so my leadership experience will hopefully bring the team closer together,” said Miller who will run the 8,000-, 1,600- and 800-meter races at Christopher Newport. “I am a diligent worker who always puts forth my greatest effort to try and improve my abilities every day. I always strive to be the best I can be in and outside of running which is an important part about being a teammate at CNU.”
Miller first visited the Newport News-based university in May and said the overall impression he got of the campus is what ultimately led him to his commitment.
“I like the size, small student to teacher ratio and that you can connect with your professors on a personal level,” Miller said. “I enjoy that CNU emphasizes that students are not just a number and that the ideals of leadership and service are stressed. I also like that CNU’s athletics are very competitive for the DIII level. I got the opportunity to meet the coach and run with the team [in early September]which really solidified my decision.”
