Jaime Miller University Year: Senior Sport: Cross Country

Steve Llewellyn selected the 1995 SunFair Invitational as the time to unleash his special surprise.

Jaime Miller’s no surprise anymore, but she’s still special.

Miller’s third of four individual wins of the cross country season, Oct. 15 at Shadle Park, helped University edge Mead to tie the Panthers for the Greater Spokane League title.

Miller burst onto the scene two years ago, when U-Hi coach Llewellyn entered her in Flight One at SunFair after four consecutive wins in junior varsity races. Miller won the flight, for No. 7 runners, in record time.

Until then, Miller was better known as a softball player and bicycle moto-cross racer. She played fall softball in ninth grade at Bowdish Junior High, but success later that year in track and field made it easier for Llewellyn to recruit her to cross country.

U-Hi placed fourth at the State AAA meet during Miller’s sophomore year, then was edged out at last year’s state-qualifying regional meet. The Titans join a deep regional field Wednesday at Hangman Valley Golf Course, with four state berths on the line.

Led by Miller, U-Hi battled with ranked teams Mead, Lewis and Clark, Ferris and Shadle Park in the GSL. LC topped U-Hi on Wednesday.

“We had all the confidence in the world in our team,” Miller said. “We felt this was going to be our year.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo