Orange County Player of the Week : Pole Vault Brings Out the Best in Miller

Doug Miller of Estancia High School is the kind of guy coaches really like to have on their team. He does a lot of things, and he does all of them well.

Miller played linebacker, defensive back, wide receiver and fullback and he punted for the Eagle football team last season. That’s versatility.

And for the Estancia track and field team, Miller, a senior, competed in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, the 110-meter high hurdles, the triple jump and the pole vault.

It makes you wonder just what he can’t do.

The pole vault is his best event. Last year, his best effort was only 13 feet, 2 inches. But he has gradually improved. At the start of this season, he vaulted 14-2. At the Arcadia Invitational in April, he reached 15-0. Then, last month at the Southern Section 3-A finals, he vaulted a career-best 15-6 to win. Miller followed up his title-winning performance by vaulting 15-4 last Saturday in the State high school track and field final, good for second behind Menlo Atherton’s Steve Toney (16-2).

For his performance, Miller is The Times’ Player of the Week.

A few weeks ago, Steve Williams of Servite was widely considered Orange County’s best pole vaulter. But now, Miller seems to be No. 1.

Williams, who vaulted 14-4 at the 3-A finals and 14-8 Saturday, was favored to beat Miller. But that didn’t leave Miller feeling slighted. He relished the role of underdog.

“I really didn’t mind being the dark horse, there’s no pressure,” he said. “I felt intimidated by him (Williams) after he went 16 at Arcadia. He was better than I was then.

“But after I saw him a few times, I knew I could compete with him.”

Not only was Miller once regarded as the second-best vaulter in the county, but many regarded him as the second-best athlete on the Estancia team, next to talented Eagle hurdler and high jumper Eric Dorn.

But Tom Fisher, Estancia coach, doesn’t believe that. Tuesday night, he named Dorn and Miller Estancia’s co-Most Valuable Players.

“We treat them as equals around here,” Fisher said. “They’re both extremely talented.”

Like many teen-agers, Miller doesn’t have to work hard to maintain his 6-foot, 174-pound frame. He hasn’t lifted weights since the end of football season, and he doesn’t exactly have a nutritious diet.

“I eat a bunch of junk food, all kinds of it,” he said. “My favorites are Popsicles.”

But Miller does live right. He’s an Eagle Scout who maintains a 3.45 grade-point average. Last semester, he got all A’s.

That’s one reason the University of Colorado is so interested in him. The other is his potential to become a decathlete.

“He already is very good at the two toughest events, the pole vault and the triple jump,” Fisher said. “I think he could excel at the decathlon.”

Doug Miller

Estancia High School

Position: Pole Vaulter

Height, Class: 6-0, Senior

Last Week: Finished second in State high school track and field meet with a vault of 15-4.

Season: Won the Southern Section 3-A title with a vault of 15-6 and Sea View League title with a vault of 15-2.