D.J. Miller Mead Year: Senior Sport: Track Events: Tj/Lj

It was no secret at Mead that D.J. Miller was going to jump a long way one day. The secret was when. The answer came last week in a league meet at Rogers when the senior soared 45 feet, 1-1/4 inches in the triple jump and 22-6-1/2 in the long jump.

“We knew he had that kind of ability,” Mead coach Gary Baskett said. “He just hadn’t popped one.

Now he has popped two - of each.

Proving last Thursday was no accident, Miller followed up with a 44-11 triple jump and 22-2 long jump two days later at the Mooberry Relays.

“I just came out and everything felt good,” Miller said. “I knew I had it in me but I didn’t know when it would come out.”

Last year Miller’s bests were 43-3-1/4 and 21-2 as he battled shin splints.

“I’ve been really concentrating on staying healthy,” he said. “I just want to see what I can do. I’m not setting number goals, I just want to see what happens.”

Baskett expects that to be big things.

“He works hard,” the coach said. “Sometimes kids don’t realize how good they are. There’s more in there. It’s going to be fun before the end of the year.

“I think he’ll place in both at state, that’s our goal. And, his brain is good; he thinks good things.”

And he jumps good jumps.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo