400m hurdler Miller flourishing in new environment

After making the switch from Calabar High to Hydel High, talented junior 400 metres hurdler Robert Miller says he is flourishing in his new environment and he has set his sights on a great season.

Miller, who will continue to be coached by Corey Bennett at the Ferry-based institution, said the move was about doing what was best for his development. Bennett, who coached at Calabar for the past three years, left the school at the end of last season after his contract was not renewed.

"It is about adapting to a new environment because it is track and field and you just have to do what's best for you at all times. It was, however, a tough decision to move from Calabar to Hydel," said Miller who added that he has not received any negative feedback from anyone at Calabar.

"I believe that people understand it is track and field and you have to do what is best for you," he said.

The 17-year-old had mixed fortunes last season. He fell at the sixth hurdle in the final of the Class One 400m hurdles at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) but went on to take gold in 50.42 seconds in the Under-20 event at the 2025 Carifta Games in Trinidad and Tobago.

Last Saturday the soft-spoken Miller was in outstanding form at the Purewater/R Danny Williams/JC Development Meet at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College. He won both the Class One 400m hurdles and the 110m hurdles. He clocked 51.10 seconds to lower the Class One 400m hurdles meet record. The previous mark was 52.35.

Miller then returned to erase the Class One 110m hurdles meet record, clocking 13.76 seconds, bettering the previous mark of 13.83.

"It is going to be a great season for me because redemption is my theme for 2026," Miller said.

Reflecting on last year's disappointment at the ISSA/Boys and Girls' Championships, he added: "Last year you know what happened in the final when I fell at the sixth hurdle, so I am coming back this year and putting in the work and staying focused and being ready for whatever challenges come my way," he pointed out.

Miller also has his sights set on representing Jamaica on the international stage this year.

"The goal this season is to also represent my country at the World Under-20 Championships and so I am working towards it as well," he said.