This week the spotlight is on mid distance/distance standout Aaliyah Miller. Miller was the double state champ in 2014 in the 800m & 1600m. Setting the Texas state 800m record in the process. She came back to win the USATF National JO Outdoor Champs 800m. Again breaking her own record in 2:06.28. She will be a dominant force on the outdoor scene again in 2015. Watch this rising star to be on top of the rankings again.
1. Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. Let's start by looking back at the 2014 Outdoor season. You were the 800/1600 state champ, talk about what it meant to you to be a 2x state champ.
Becoming a two time state champ meant a lot to me, it felt like all of the hard work that I had put into the season had finally paid off.
2. After ending your Texas Outdoor season in that way, clearly there's now a target on your back. You're going to enter almost every race in Texas as the favorite to win. Has that affected your training? Changed the way you have been preparing for outdoor in the offseason?
Coach Keahey's running program at McKinney Boyd always keeps me prepared for the season. No doubt she will have some new surprises to keep me motivated and working hard to stay up with the elite athletes here in Texas.
3. You also run XC in the fall. Where does XC fall in terms of how important it is for you compared to track? Do you like XC? Or are you mainly a track girl?
Cross Country has helped me a lot with the mental part of running. In my first three years in the sport I have had minor setbacks that have motivated me to do better my senior year. Although track is my favorite, the team aspect of cross country I really enjoy.
4. You have a pretty diverse race resume, branching out and spending time racing the 400/800/1600. Which is your favorite distance to race, which is most difficult, and why?
My favorite race to run is the 800 because I've ran the race for quite a while now so I come into the race with a lot more confidence. The most difficult race to me is the mile, because of the pacing. I have to learn to pace myself and hit my splits correctly in order to get to the next level in this event.
5. You've run at some major meets. Talk about which meet had the best atmosphere and was just fun to be at. Maybe the loudest crowd, best competition, great announcer/awards, etc.
The 2014 State Meet at UT Austin was one of the major meets that was just so fun to be at. It was so exciting to be able to compete at such a high level, let alone break a record. Also, the crowd knew that I was close to it and I could feel their energy as I was approaching the final stretch of the race, it was crazy and I loved second of it.
6. Go through your pre-race routine. Do you eat something specific? Do you or the team have any cool/weird superstitions or traditions? Listen to the same song on repeat each time? Etc. I'm not really superstitious, but I do like to be on time. Usually the team is focused on their race.
7. There are a lot of excellent mid distance/distance girls in Texas right now. Talk about how having those athletes to compete against motivates you through your racing and training.
I know moving up to the distance race; I am going to face nationally ranked talent each week. It motivates me to train even harder to match the competition. It helps me with racing because in order to be the best you have to race with the best.
8. Now looking ahead to this outdoor season, being a 2x state champ, what are your goals this season? What would need to happen for you to consider it a success?
Of course everyone wants to be a repeat champion, but I know how rare that is in 6A.Last year was so special with breaking the state record that would be hard to top.
9. Who has been an inspiring figure you look up to and gives you motivation to push yourself to the limits?
Sanya Richards-Ross has motivated me to push myself mentally and physically. Especially during the Olympics, she was always striving for her individual Olympic Gold and would never stop until she had won it. When she crossed the finish line first in the 400m at London of 2012, it showed me to never give up and to always strive for more.
10. As a mid-distance/distance athlete, what type of workout do you look forward to the most each week? Long run, recovery days, track work, tempo, etc.? And what draws you to it more than the rest.
I'd prefer to have a tempo workout because of how quick the run can be, and because during the run as a team we all push each other to run harder and faster.
11. Wrapping up with a random question, if you could run in a relay at any distance, with any 3 professional athletes, what relay would you choose, and which athletes?
The 4x400 Relay, with Sanya Richards-Ross, Allyson Felix and DeeDee Trotter
