Published: May 15, 2008 03:10 pm            

Running into success

• Miller, Rackley earn SHS cross country honors

Both Max Miller and Erica Rackley have been asked the question, “Why run?”

They would seem like two good sources for an answer, but even the Stillwater High seniors can’t always respond succinctly.

“I tend to ask, ‘Why not run?’” Miller said. “I’m healthy. There are a lot of reasons why.”

He added, “It seems pretty ridiculous and it was at first to me. I was doing it to stay in shape. After a while I got really used to it. Once I got decent at running, it became really fun.”

Rackley said it was a “complicated question.”

“People do it for different reasons,” she said. “Some people might do it for prizes and glory, winning, whatever, but I’ve learned that’s not a good reason because when you don’t win you’re like, ‘Why am I doing this?’”

Whatever their reasons, Miller and Rackley ran with quality in large quantities and are being honored as the NewsPress’ SHS Cross Country Runners of the Year.

Both are three-time qualifiers for the Class 5A State Cross Country Championship. Miller earned All-State honors by placing 12th (16:36.72) in the event last fall. He was 28th as a junior (17:47.22) and 33rd as a sophomore (17:51.12).

Perhaps his best race was in last fall’s Oklahoma/Arkansas All-Star Meet. He was fourth overall and second among Oklahomans with a 16:11.63 in Fayetteville.

He also earned All-State honors twice this spring. At the Class 6A State Track and Field Championships, he was sixth in both the 1,600 meters (4:33.38) and the 3,200m (9:57.14). He was also part of the 4x800m team that took 15th (8:49.88).

His junior year, he was eighth in the 3,200m (10:01.34) and 11th in the 1,600m (4:29.84).

“He has a very good work ethic,” said SHS coach Dan Zeroski. “He doesn’t put down other runners. He’s a good team leader. He’s someone to look up to.”

Rackley made the championship in cross country as a freshman (53rd, 13:45.3), junior (78th, 14:03.75) and senior (58th, 13:09.93).

She was one half-second from qualifying as a sophomore, when her teammate, Breanna Tharp, edged her with a 12:47.3 for the last at-large berth out of their Regional.

She was that close to being a rare four-time State qualifier for the Lady Pioneers.

Rackley has also competed in the 3,200m in the past three State Track Meets. She was 15th this year (13:07.24), 15th in 2007 (13:23.52) and 12th in 2006 (12:58.96). She also finished 16th in the 1,600m (6:07.31) this season.

“She is going to get paid to run in college,” Zeroski said, referring to her scholarship to Oklahoma Baptist. “That tells you she’s had a pretty successful career.”

Never one to settle, Rackley is unimpressed with her own performances.

“I wouldn’t say I had a bad career, but I didn’t shine like I wanted to,” she said. “Things happened and I stuck with it. That’s probably the most important thing.”

While she will be running in Shawnee, Miller is likely to attend the University of New Mexico, where he may walk-on.

Even if he doesn’t, he said he has grown to love the sport and will probably run on his own.

For both of them, it’s an activity that has been rewarding. As Miller might say, ‘Why stop?’

        

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