When someone’s accomplishments include setting the British Columbia (Canada) high school record in the triple jump, the 100-meter hurdle record at the Golden State Athletic Conference meet, and not one but two Nationals MVP awards, what more can you ask for?
Adding two silver medals at the Canada Games must be all in a day’s work, right?
Natasha Miller, a junior in business management here at Biola, recently accomplished that very feat, receiving two silver medal awards for both the 100m-hurdles and the high jump this past August.
“This was a good finish to a great year,” Miller said in a recent interview. “I am officially done with my season for right now, but I will be back in training for the Biola season within a month or so.”
Despite her success, Miller didn’t even acquire the desire for track until she was in junior high, and even through high school she still debated on whether playing basketball or track at the next level.
“The story is that I used to compete in equestrian events with my mom. We would travel all around British Columbia going to different shows. As I would walk my course for jumping my horse, I would always run it and jump the jumps. So everyone would always tell me I should do hurdles or something in track. So I thought I’d try it out!” she admitted.
Well, B.C. and Biola are certainly glad she did.
Miller, who qualified to represent British Columbia with her mark and times from the NAIA National Event, performed well enough in the high jump (1.71) for her second place finish, but actually set a personal best in the hurdles with consistent times of 14.27 (in the semi-finals) and 14.28 (in the finals.)
“I was very happy with my hurdles races, where I got a personal best time, but not quite as happy with the high jump. I jumped very poorly, but I’m just happy I had the opportunity to compete there,” Miller explains.
Perhaps that is what separates Miller from her competition in events.
As she sprints from one event to the other in most meets (she usually competes in the heptathlon, which is a combination of seven events), you see a woman whose highest goals do not only include the realistic thought of competing in the Olympics, but ultimately serving her Savior, Jesus Christ.
When Miller can afford the time, she sits in her lane before the hurdles, going eye to eye with what will strain her muscles for the next 100 meters. As she does this, she prays and lets God remind her why she’s competing.
“I talk to Him as I warm up and He gives me confidence not that I am always going to do well and everything is going to go perfectly, but instead He tells me I can be confident in myself no matter what the outcome is,” she professes. “When I do badly, I obviously am not happy, but He reminds me not to dwell on it and to just shake it off, and as long as I’ve tried my best, I can’t complain about that.”
As Miller returns to life as a normal as can be student athlete, one that is a champion on and off the circuit, she carries herself with a Christ-like attitude, a servant hearted young woman who aspires to succeed not for any coach or any fan, but for Him.
So as she returns to base training this fall, she will again compete to repeat and build upon her success this year, which includes a career mark of zero defeats in the 800 meters, a difficult race for any athlete.
Just remember, as you watch and admire Miller dominantly win event after event, she will always remind you where her strength and success comes from.
