Last June, former American runner Kyle Merber told Christian Miller, “You’re now getting on this level where you’re watching the pros, but your times are quickly getting to that [level].” This was right after he won the 200m event at the 2023 New Balance Nationals, setting a time of 20.45s. Merber sent a message to the professionals: “Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley; these guys better watch out.” A year later, Miller is living up to that potential. And it’s partly because of the high benchmarks he set, one of which is Usain Bolt.

The Creekside High School senior recently blazed past the competition with a jaw-dropping 9.93-second 100-meter dash at the Pure Athletics Spring Invitational in Clermont. Representing the St. Johns Striders club, Miller not only slashed more than a 10th of a second off his previous personal best but also became the youngest athlete in history to break the 10-second barrier in 100m, becoming the fastest American Under-20 athlete.

Before Miller’s electrifying performance, the only sub-10-second time listed by World Athletics for the year was Favour Ashe’s 9.99, achieved in March. Miller’s remarkable feat broke the national Under-20 record previously held by Trayvon Bromell. With a wind reading well within the legal limit, Miller’s sprint is a monumental achievement. But from whom does he draw his inspiration?

Former track and field athlete Fitzroy Dunkley interviewed Christian Miller after his record-breaking 9.93s dash. Considering how steep his learning and improvement curve has been in the past year, Dunkley couldn’t help but ask who his inspiration was. “I used to look up to Usain Bolt a lot. He was a very big inspiration,” the 17-year-old revealed. As arguably the greatest sprinter of all time, Bolt is a benchmark almost every athlete strives to follow. But Miller’s list isn’t limited to only the Jamaican.

Focusing more on his direct competition, the Florida native added, “Recently, I looked up to a lot of greats like Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, Letsile Tebogo, also Erriyon Knighton.” The 17-year-old’s recent show in the 100m event has sparked comparisons to these athletes, and Miller’s remarkable achievements on the track suggest a bright future ahead. He feels so, too!

When Dunkley pointed out that Miller’s the fastest athlete on the planet right now, the sprinter reflected, “I just feel like it’s a great milestone I’ve hit. Going from fastest high-schooler, then fastest U18 athlete, U20 athlete, and now the fastest in the world right now, It’s just great.” His focus, though, is on getting better every day. “At the point I’m at now, I’m not just racing high schoolers but I can now race people that are much older and much more developed. It means I’m getting to that point as well. So now I’m coming for much more.”

Usain Bolt was 22 when he set the 100m (9.58s) and 200m (19.19s) world records. As a 17-year-old who’s still developing, Christian Miller has some way to go to try and break those records. But there’s no doubt that’s his goal. The first step would be to break the junior 100m and 200m records set by Issam Asinga (9.89s; pending ratification) and Erriyon Knighton (19.69s), respectively.

Given his confidence in his abilities, it may be only a matter of time for Miller. This latest display of excellence is not an isolated occurrence for him, as this isn’t the first time he has delivered such outstanding performances.

Christian Miller broke the World U18 record

In 2023, Christian Miller showcased his exceptional talent at the USA U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, securing gold medals in both the 100m and 200m events while achieving new personal bests. His remarkable 10.06-second finish in the 100m secured victory and set a new world under-18 record, highlighting his immense potential early in his career.

In the interview with Dunkley, Miller revealed, “After running the 10.06, there were a lot of people saying, ‘When you run that fast, you don’t come back and run any faster, definitely [not] as a high schooler.'” But he proved them wrong with his 9.93 dash less than a year later. As he said this, he also shed light on what’s to come.

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“[The 9.93] shows that I have a lot left in the tank. By the time Trials come, it’s going to be something special.” The 17-year-old is confident about doing well at the upcoming Olympic Trials, and his attitude is the same as what it was back in 2023 at the New Balance Nationals. He’d said, “I’d be watching all the college athletes and professionals and think, ‘Man, I want to be out there running faster or even close to their times. I just see myself getting closer and closer to them as I grow up.”

Even prior to his standout performance on the national stage, Miller demonstrated his prowess on the track. In 2022, he claimed silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m at the FHSAA Outdoor State Finals in Gainesville, Florida. His winning streak continued with a gold medal in the 200m at the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia, solidifying his status as a rising star in track and field.