Due to our regular full time jobs, the editors of RunWV rarely have time to write articles. It takes most of our time just to keep the meets entered and best performances and polls updated. Recently, however, we came across a story that really couldn't be ignored.
While covering meets on a statewide basis, we get the chance to see many great athletes and many outstanding performances. We have been attending the State Track meet (as runners and spectators) since 1984 and have gotten to see many of the great performances that are still being talked about today. We have gotten to see Randy Barnes (Shot and Discus '84 and '85) and James Jett (100, 200 and 400 '89) (Both Olympic Gold Medal winners) dominate the competition and set records with ease. We have gotten to see field events take center stage with Casey Freed's Pole Vault ('95) and Nathan Field's High Jump ('98) captiviating crowds in recent years. We also got to watch Crystal Hypes notch great marks throw after throw in the Discus and Shot in 1993 (although she never received the attention of the others mentioned here.) We cheered as Hedgesville's 4x800 went for it all and broke the record in 1995. Last year saw Holly Hunter set three state records in less than 24 hours, and we held our breath as the boy's AAA championship came down to the last 100 meters of the 4x400 relay, and Track & Field became a contact sport. We even got to see Randy Moss dabble at track and showcase his talent long before the NFL beckoned. These are just some of the countless victories we've witnessed along with many heartbreaking false starts and close calls.
It takes a lot for an athlete to stand out in this crowd of memories, but this year, another one has joined the list of unforgettables. It is not through Amy Miller's athletic prowess that she stands out (although she has placed in the state meet and is once again highly ranked), but for her attitude and spirit. Amy is an outstanding runner and jumper for the Bridgeport Indian Girls and placed 3rd in the 100M and 5th in the Pole Vault in last year's AAA girls State Meet. She has earned a scholarship to compete in soccer and track for Robert Morris. We have had the pleasure of watching her run many times over the past several years and knew what an outstanding athlete she was, but we had not really gotten a chance to see the other side of Amy.
As we were working the Doddridge Hosts Harrison County track meet we had the opportunity to see this other side. We're sure she didn't realize who we were (we doubt many people recognize us at the 20 or so meets we attend each year) or that what she was doing was going to get her an article on RunWV. As the meet was coming to a close and the 300 hurdles were being erected, a tired staff of timers were working there way around the track to put the hurdles in place. This is a time when most kids that do not have events left are leaving with parents, drifting off to the buses that are being warmed up or are huddled in the bleachers and locker rooms. As we neared the darkened corner of the track, we saw a red and white flash zipping from hurdle to hurdle, smiling all the while as she helped put up the hurdles. We hollered to her "They won't let you do this at Robert Morris" and she just grinned and said "I will if they let me." Keep in mind that Amy had just finished winning the 200 Meter Dash.
Later after the meet, the clerk who runs the bullpen at Doddridge events (who just happens to be our mother) told even more of the story. During the meet, Amy came up to her and said (we are paraphrasing here) "You've been here since my Freshman year. I just wanted to thank you for all your time you have put in." For those of you who don't know, the clerk who works the bullpen is the person in charge of giving lane assignments and checking the runners in. Amy took the time to thank her when a lot of kids wouldn't have given a second thought to thanking their parents or coaches, much less the bullpen worker at an away meet. From all reports, this is typical behavior for Amy Miller.
In this day when taunting and trash-talking have taken center stage over respect and sportsmanship, it's refreshing to see someone like Amy Miller, someone whose spirit, smile, and attitude are so powerful that they rub off on all those around her.
Amy, we don't know if you'll ever read this, but we would like to thank you on behalf of everyone involved in the sport of Track & Field. Keep smiling and never change!