Bixby’s Ella Miller

Under the late-afternoon sun at Bixby High School’s track, sophomore sprinter Ella Miller settles into the blocks with the calm focus of someone who has already decided she belongs on the big stage. When the gun sounds, she explodes forward, a key piece of the Lady Spartans’ varsity sprint corps and a rising name in one of Oklahoma’s premier programs.

Miller, a varsity athlete for the Bixby High School Lady Spartans, runs the 4×100, 4×200, 100 and 200 meters, embracing both the pressure and privilege that come with a heavy workload. “To me I would say the hardest part of being a track athlete is constantly trying to be better than the people around you,” Miller said. “Always trying to prove yourself and earn your spot on the relay or making sure you’re not letting your coaches down.”

That competitive edge is balanced by a deep appreciation for the teammates who line the homestretch to cheer her on. “What I love most about my teammates is how supportive they are,” Miller said. “Every time I finish my races, they are always there to congratulate me, and my teammates never fail to make practice a fun time. My coaches are also always looking to do what’s best for me and I feel so blessed to have the coaches I have.”

While she does not point to one singular role model, Miller said the program’s veterans have shaped her approach to the sport. “I wouldn’t say that I have a specific person that inspires me, but I would definitely say that I look up to the upperclassmen on my team a lot,” she said. “The girls in the grades above me have been such great role models and have all had so many great accomplishments and they have showed me that you’re not going to be great as soon as you start but you have to work to get what you want.”

One of those examples is former teammate Kolie Cozort, whose progression still motivates her. “Kolie Cozort, a former teammate of mine, was someone who left a big impression on me,” Miller said. “I only knew her for a year but seeing that she started in the same spot that I did and then seeing how much she improved over the years was just a great reminder that I still have so much time to work up to where I want to be.”

Representing Bixby, Miller said, is about more than medals. “Representing Bixby is special to me because it is such a great program where I am surrounded by a bunch of very supportive coaches and teammates who I know all care about me and want me to be the best I can be,” she said.

Track has also shaped how Miller sees herself and her future. “Athletics have taught me that hard work really does pay off and it takes time to become good at things,” she said. “You don’t just start off doing everything great.” After graduation, she hopes to study sonography and, if the opportunity comes, continue her track career in college.

For now, she is focused on small daily gains — taking corrections from coaches, sharpening her mindset and moving past the occasional rough race. “Something I am good at is taking corrections from my coaches and constantly looking for things I can improve on,” Miller said. “Something I am still working on though is staying positive even through the hard times and remembering that one bad race doesn’t define who I am.”