A high school athlete taking down a world champion like Christian Coleman? That’s not your everyday headline. But when it happens, you know it’s no fluke. An 18-year-old track and field athlete from St. Johns County is anything but that. Well, last year, that athlete made waves by finishing fifth in the men’s 100m final at the U.S. Olympic Trials—an astonishing feat for a teenager. It wasn’t enough to secure him a spot on the U.S. men’s relay team for Paris, but it lit a fire in him. That missed opportunity didn’t break his spirit—it built it.

Fast forward to this year’s Tom Jones Memorial, and Christian Miller flipped the script. In a jaw-dropping performance, he outran Christian Coleman, the same man who once claimed a spot on that Olympic team Miller was left off. Was it revenge? Some might see it that way. But for those who truly know Miller, like former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin and veteran coach Rodney Green, it’s not about payback. It’s about purpose.

They see “Cmilly” as a young man grounded in faith, fueled by belief, and driven by destiny. Sprinting is his calling—and he’s answering it loud and clear. And praise? On the latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin had a few words for the rising star that spoke volumes: “Don’t put your schedule out, Cmilly. Don’t you just show up like a ghost in the night and just have them all like, ‘Oh, here he comes—the second he’s coming.’” With that kind of praise and performances to match, Christian Miller isn’t just running races—he’s announcing his arrival. But wait. Rodney also had something to say in his praise. And, surprisingly, when Justin was forbidding Miller to release his schedule ahead of time, Rodney had a different kind of request.  

Rodney Green couldn’t have put it better on the Ready Set Go podcast: “He’s [Christian Miller] showing that ‘hey, it’s not a fluke, it’s not a fluke, I am here, y’all going to have to deal with me, high school or no high school, y’all going to have to deal with me.’ And he showed up today, and he showed out.” And show out Christian Miller did. With a blistering 9.93 seconds under his belt, Miller still holds the top spot on the U.S. U-20 all-time 100m list. But it wasn’t just the clock that got people talking—it was the competition he left in his wake. At the Tom Jones Memorial on April 19, he didn’t just run fast—he ruined an Olympian’s day, toppling none other than Christian Coleman on the same Percy Beard Track where legends have been made.

Expectations now? They’re sky-high. Everyone’s now watching, waiting to see where Cmilly turns up next. Even Rodney Green, a man who’s seen talent come and go, couldn’t help but say: “I’d love to see where he runs next or if he could put his schedule out cuz I’m watching.” But Gatlin wants the surprise charm from Cmilly. He wants him to come from the dark and catch everything off guard, as Miller did in Percy Beard Track on April 19. 

The track and field wunderkind went past the big guns 

April 19 wasn’t just about beating Christian Coleman. For Christian Miller, the Tom Jones Memorial 100m was a proving ground stacked with seasoned elite talent—Courtney Lindsey, Kyree King, Pjai Austin, Kendal Williams, and Joseph Fahnbulleh. Every one of them had been battle-tested on some of the biggest stages in track and field. But on that sunny Gainesville afternoon, it was the high schooler-turned-pro who made the loudest noise.

Miller blazed to a time of 10.02 seconds (+1.9 m/s), finishing second only to Courtney Lindsey—the same Lindsey who played a key role in helping Team USA clock the world-leading time in the 4x100m relay at last year’s World Athletics Relays. Lindsey edged out Miller by just 0.07 seconds, but it was the teenager who stole the spotlight. Christian Coleman? He finished fourth in 10.06. That says enough. But the race itself wasn’t the only historic moment.

This was Christian Miller’s first appearance since turning professional—and since signing his deal with Puma after a heartbreaking miss at last year’s Olympic Trials. Most 17-year-olds might’ve folded. Cmilly? He leveled up. In an emotional Instagram post at the time, he said: “That (God’s plan) has gotten me to the point now to make this decision, and it’s gonna help me far down the line as well.” Well, “far down the line” arrived on April 19. And Miller didn’t just show up—he announced himself to the world: A teenager among titans. A debut that sent shockwaves through the sprinting world. Now, Christian Miller is no longer chasing the pack. He’s in it. And he’s coming for more.