By Mike Clark

Post-Tribune

 

Jarvis McMillian wasn't looking to go anywhere, but the decision wasn't his to make.

After establishing himself as the region's premier sprinter by sweeping the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash titles at the sectional and regional levels as a Wirt sophomore, McMillian found his life turned upside down when the school closed last spring.

McMillian transferred to Hobart, but there were some rumblings about whether he'd be eligible. The story has a happy ending for McMillian and the Brickies, because he's cleared all the eligibility hurdles and is eager to make his Hobart debut this week.

"Yeah, it's going to be very exciting because I'm running with different people," McMillian said. "I'm running with people I know for a fact are great with what they do."

After the IHSAA cleared McMillian, he had to take care of business in the classroom.

"First thing is grades, (getting) my grades down and everything is good," he said.

"He worked hard on his grades," Hobart coach Nick Byrd said. "He has done a great job in the classroom."

There is not much doubt McMillian will excel on the track, as well. At last year's state meet, he was seventh in the 200 (22.51 seconds), eighth in the 100 (10.88) and fourth in the 400 (49.08). Impressive as that was, it also was an especially demanding workload.

His mix of events could change this spring at Hobart, which has another top-flight sprinter in senior Kendall Gunn. With McMillian and Gunn, a returning state qualifier in the 200 who is McMillian's AAU teammate, the Brickies have the makings of some good relay teams.

"I'm not going to say I'm going to give up on the (100)," McMillian said, but his likely lineup includes the 200, 400, 400 relay and 1,600 relay.

He is looking for some big-time drops after going 21.47 in the 200 during the AAU season and running a 47.1 split on the 1,600 relay.

And now that the transition period is over, McMillian is in a better place mentally.

"It's easier for me to focus," he said. "When I first got here, it was a big struggle."

Byrd is looking forward to the boost the Brickies will get from their new standout.

"It gives us a solid cornerstone to build from," Byrd said. "A little weight is lifted off (Gunn).

"Depending on where we're at in the season, (McMillian is) going to run everything in the sprints and relays."

And when he lines up, there will be plenty of eyes on him.

"Poeple still know who I am and they are going to be looking for (good) things to come out of me," McMillian said.

That's OK, because McMillian and his new teammates have the same great expectations.

 

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