Miller Makes Detour to Staples

Inger Miller was carried into the Los Angeles Athletic Club Thursday by an appropriately jolly Santa Claus, but she didn’t really need the lift.

The assist from Santa was purely in the spirit of the season, not in deference to the hamstring injury that prevented Miller from pursuing gold in the 100, 200 and 400-meter relay at the Sydney Olympics. Thanks to physical therapy, her hamstring has healed and she will compete in the Powerade Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 11 at Staples Center.

“My first plan wasn’t to run indoors,” said Miller, a graduate of USC and resident of the San Fernando Valley. “But hearing about this meet at Staples Center and the new situation made it enticing.”

Miller is among a dozen Sydney medalists who will participate in the meet. Organizers on Thursday confirmed Coca-Cola’s Powerade brand sports drink had made a three-year commitment to back the event, whose name was changed at the last minute from Powerade Indoor Games to satisfy the sponsor’s request and make the event sound more prestigious.

Doug Nelson, vice chairman of the L.A. track and field organizing committee, said more sponsors will be announced soon. That financial backing has enabled organizers to lure elite athletes such as sprinters Maurice Greene, Ato Boldon and Jon Drummond, and medal-winning pole vaulters Stacy Dragila and Lawrence Johnson.

“Our budget is double that of any of the other events that will be held in 2001,” Nelson said. “This will be the best event indoors across the country, if not the world.”

Miller, who doesn’t plan to run in other indoor meets, is still dealing with disappointment over Sydney.

“I missed the big event, but it’s not the end of the world,” she said. “There are other events, and I’m looking forward to them and to running outdoors. It was heartbreaking, but it’s over with.”

Running at Staples won’t make up for the missed medals, but Miller takes consolation in helping boost spectator interest in track and field.

“For us to have two meets here in Southern California is outstanding,” she said, referring to the Powerade meet and the L.A. Invitational Indoor Track Meet at the Sports Arena on Jan. 20. “I’m hoping TV, sponsors and fans are looking at track and field as another outlet for their interest.

“I have friends who are teachers and they’re going to come to this meet and bring kids. We need younger fans, and that’s growing. We’ve got little girls looking at Maurice Greene and Ato Boldon as teen idols.”