As a freshman, Barrington’s Scotty Miller did not participate in track and field.
At a speed camp for football prior to Miller’s sophomore year, Barrington assistant football coach and head track coach Todd Kuklinski encouraged Miller to join track in the spring.
“He had this burst and could just flat-out run,” Kuklinski said. “I told him what I thought he could do in track, and it’s [worked out] ever since.”
To say the least.
Miller, a junior, has exceeded all expectations and in just two seasons already is the most decorated male track and field athlete in school history.
At the Class 3A state track and field meet Friday and Saturday at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois in Charleston, he became the first Barrington athlete to medal in three different events.
Miller placed third in the 100-meter dash (10.74 seconds). In the preliminary heat, he broke his own school record with a time of 10.66. He established a new school record with a time of 21.45 in the 200 meters, which was good for fourth place.
“I got a great start in the 100 meter and ran my best race the entire year,” said Miller, who helped Barrington finish in a tie for 12th in the team standings (20 points).
He also ran the anchor leg of Barrington’s 4×200-meter relay that placed ninth. Miller, seniors Parker Deloye and J.P. Brooks and junior Brandon Melnychuk combined to run a time of 1:28.53, which was a school record.
“It’s amazing to watch [Miller]; his starts are monstrous,” junior Konrad Eiring said. “He’s so mellow but when he steps on the track he tears it up. He’s not fazed at all by going against great runners.”
As a sophomore, Miller reached the final heat in the 200 meters and the 4×200 relay.
“I didn’t know what to expect and was surprised that the stadium was packed,” he said about his first trip to state. “It was a great experience and this season I came in confident.”
Adding a degree of difficulty to his accomplishment was that he was far from a picture of health for most of April. He battled walking pneumonia and lost about 15 pounds.
The Barrington coaches eased Miller back slowly throughout the month of May. That helped him recover and gain strength for the season’s stretch run.
“It’s remarkable where he came from just a few weeks ago,” Kuklinski said. “We hoped by the time the state meet came that he would be close to 100 percent, and he was even better than that.”
Kuklinski said it’s exciting to think about how Miller will continue to progress.
“If he can have a complete year to avoid illness and get stronger he’ll [continue] to do some pretty special things,” Kuklinski said.
Barrington’s 4×800 relay team of seniors Adam Phillips, John Andraschko and juniors Tyler Anderson and Eiring (7:47.11) earned fourth place. The Broncos were the defending champions in the event but had battled injuries throughout the season.
“We were focused on making it to the finals and getting on the podium,” Eiring said.
