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Cross Country: Title shocks EKU's Miller

October 31, 2006|HAL MORRIS

RICHMOND - Three days after helping Eastern Kentucky win the Ohio Valley Conference women's cross country title, senior Shannon Miller is still awed at the feat.

"It was definitely a shock. I was shocked at the whole thing," said Miller, a Boyle County High School graduate said. "I think we were going around and congratulating everybody, and everybody was telling us we had finished first.

"But until they announced it, I still couldn't believe it. I think I'm still in shock."

Miller more than did her part to bring the title back to Richmond, finishing the 3.1-mile course in 18 minutes, 37 seconds to finish third overall. She was just 10 seconds behind the winner, Katherine Herring of Samford, and three seconds behind Eastern teammate Kathryn Ankrom.

Miller's performance earned her first team all-OVC honors.

"For the most past, I just had to stay in there. I tried to stay relaxed and focused on how to run the race mentally. It's all mental, and I just had to figure out the course and how to run it," said Miller, who made second team all-conference as a sophomore. "I went out really fast at first and I had people telling me to relax. I think I relaxed too much and (Herring) and my teammate caught up to me. And it was us right there together the whole race."

While this is the 21st time the EKU women have claimed the conference crown, the Colonels have not won the title since 2002. So finally getting back to the top of the conference in her final attempt made it extra special for Miller.

Also excelled in track

"The girls had really been working extra hard all season, and for the past four years, so it was just great," said Miller, who also runs the 800-, 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs for the EKU track team. "And I have been surprised with my season. I've been working really hard since the beginning of the semester. My goals were clear - I wanted to win the OVC and continue and become an elite runner."

Miller has also excelled on the track, placing sixth in the 5,000 meters at the 2005 OVC outdoor championship and making second team all-OVC.

But Miller and the Colonels don't have much time to sit around and pat themselves on the back about the conference title. Eastern will attempt to qualify for the NCAA Championships at the Southeast Regional meet at E.P. Sawyer Park in Louisville Nov. 11.

"It will be a mental race for everyone. We'll try and just get better and work off each other," Miller said. "We have an excellent coach (27-year veteran Rick Erdmann). We couldn't get through it without him, and the support we get from our family and friends."

Miller said the team has trained harder this season than any other of her seasons and she still has one more strenuous week to go.

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"We'll have a harder week this week, then taper down to get ready for the regional," she said.

To get to the national meet, which is Nov. 20 in Terre Haute, Ind., would be almost too much for Miller to take.

"That would be absolutely amazing. I would be in more shock than I am now," Miller said. "I wouldn't even know what to say."

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