Submitted by Eliza Ramsey, Capital High School intern to ThurstonTalk
Hammer throwing is a blend of grace and strength, power and finesse that involves throwing a ball on a chain as far as possible. While the hammer throw is a foreign event to most outside (and even many within) track and field, it is one where Capital High School Senior Andy Miller excels. Miller’s hard work and successes over the past three years were rewarded with a full scholarship to Indiana University as a thrower. Currently ranked sixth in the nation for high schoolers, Miller is certainly deserving.
In addition to his talent in the hammer, Miller throws shot put and discus for the CHS Cougars track and field team. He is looking to be a triple threat at the upcoming WIAA State Meet and Washington State Hammer Championships.
“A hammer is essentially a shot put attached to a wire with a handle on the end,” describes Miller. The hammer itself is a 12 pound ball–16 pounds in college–attached to a 38.5 inch wire with a handle. The arena for hammer is a ring and cage similar to the discus. When Miller steps into the ring he plants and pivots around his left heel while pushing off with his right foot, spinning 3 to 4 times before he unleashes his throw. The direction and pivot foot are dependent on your dominant hand, left handed is clockwise and right, counter clockwise. Miller’s current personal record is 209 feet, which he threw last month.
Miller got his start in hammer mostly by the good fortune of living next door to Dwight Midles, a collegiate thrower for WSU, who made the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team in 1980. Miller’s babysitter was Midles younger son Zach, who is now a hammer thrower at the University of Washington. His older son Adam, who once held the high school national record, threw for the University of Southern California and is now the head coach at Saint Martin’s University. “I am incredibly lucky and blessed to have grow up next to them, and to be kinda following in their footsteps,” says Miller. Today the senior Midles is Miller’s coach in the hammer, working with him year round at his ring on Oyster Bay Road or at the facilities at The Evergreen State College to learn the art of hammer.
Miller is known around Capital High School for his large and gregarious personality, as well as his tendency to break into song at any moment. “I’m kind of a goofy guy,” he says about himself. His teammates love him for his supportive and outgoing nature, and are impressed with his talent. “He throws really heavy objects really far with relative ease,” says senior Shea Temple. Capital High School Track and Field boys coach, Jerry Miller (no relation), says Miller’s nature contributes to his achievements, “His personality keeps him loose, but he’s not afraid to work so he’s relaxed but he’s working hard and that’s a really awesome combination,” comments Coach Miller.
Miller throws shot put and discus for Capital, but is unable to compete in hammer for the Cougars. He competes independently because of issues with the District over cost and liability. Miller says, “the politics of it all is kinda tough, but I’ve also learned to really do it for myself.”
In the summer after his sophomore year, Miller competed at Junior Olympic Nationals placing 5th, “that was great but so intense.” Last summer he followed it up by competing at Junior World Trials at Indiana University, and even though he didn’t make the team, he did fall in love with Indiana.
“It’s not even real yet, it just blows my mind,” says Miller about becoming a Division I athlete next year. The Big 10 West is one of the most competitive conferences for collegiate hammer throwing. Miller was also drawn to their business school, “right now I’m thinking business management and administration, or finance, though that could all change.”
Miller loves the throws for the brotherhood they create. “You get to really know the other guys because you throw against them a lot, and especially hammer, it’s a tight knit community,” he says. Miller competes in around 15 hammer meets a year. “I like that I get to pick and choose, and do what works for me,” says Miller.
This year at Oregon Relays, a two day event held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Miller won the hammer as an independent and the discus for Capital. “Oregon was an amazing meet for me. I had a huge PR in the discus and I had a really long foul in the hammer, probably 215. It was really cool to have my teammates see what I’ve been doing, what I’ve been working so hard for. It’s a pretty cool deal.”
“It’s awesome to see someone from Capital placing so well. It’s inspiring,” says junior Hannah Hartman. Miller is a laid back, fun loving guy, who, at Oregon, led the charge in giving the majority of the boys team mohawks. “You can add hairstylist to his talents,” says Shea Temple.
Capital’s most consistent competitor in the shot put and discus this season, Miller took first in both at the Evergreen Conference League Championships, advancing to the District 4 Championships to be held at Washougal High School May 17. Currently he is ranked 2nd and 5th in shot and disc, respectively, in the 2A division. “I’ve been feeling good in both events and it really depends on what happens that day, but I’m excited,” says Miller looking towards State. Miller has also been asked to sing the national anthem at the State meet, a tribute to his vocal abilities.
A few days after the WIAA State meet is held the Hammer State Championship brings together the hammer throwers in Washington. Ranked first by over 80 feet, Miller is hoping to win his first state championship in the event, after finishing second last year.
Looking to the future, Miller says he would love to coach and teach the sport that has given him so much. “My coach and I sometimes joke about the Olympics. Right now it’s just kinda out there but who knows?” Miller says for now he is focusing on state and then competing at Indiana though he’s keeping an open mind and hoping to continue to improve and grow.
Miller has found his success through hard work, focus and fun. “I’m so incredibly thankful for it all and I can’t wait for what’s next.”
Special thanks to Kevin Wright for the photographs.
