It's Millar time
Dan Tombasco
Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Sports
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"During my senior year in high school, I had a really hard math teacher," Millar said. "But it taught me how to put my mind on doing things. It's has helped me a lot."
Millar added up the awards since he set foot on campus -- in 2007, he became the first Blue Demon to win a Big East individual title for the hammer throw. On Tuesday, Millar was named the Big East Athlete of the Week for the second time in his career.
The latest honor ties him with sophomore Matthew Graham as the only Blue Demons to earn Athlete of the Week on more than one occasion for the cross-country and track and field teams.
Millar won the weight throw at the Badger Track Classic in Madison, Wis., last week, setting a new career best throw of 20.03 meters. The winning throw now ranks ninth nationally with Millar setting atop all Big East throwers by more than a meter.
"It's pretty cool," Millar said of his latest achievement. "There are a lot of great athletes [in the Big East], and for them to pick me over the jumpers in Louisville, it means something." Millar beat out the Cardinals' Jere' Summers and Matt Bruce as well as Sheicka Ward of Villanova.
"We're excited for Brad," said DePaul coach Brandon Murer. "He has understood preparation early as a freshman. He's a great leader by example."
Millar's example also translates over to the classroom where he has been a member of the Big East all-academic team for three straight years. He is on-track to earn a degree in physical education at the end of the year.
"I was well-prepared coming out of high school," Millar said. "I went to a challenging high school -- the math and science courses were something else. I had to have time-management skills."
Besides track, Millar also played volleyball, basketball, hockey and golf in high school. He believes that the different sports helped him pick up on certain skill sets quicker.
"It made it easier for me to learn new things quicker as I go along," Millar said of the sports. "The hammer is an unusual event for a lot of people, and I think it helped me pick it up faster."
Millar also gave credit to Murer and the DePaul coaching staff for his success on and off the track.
"Coach Murer has been a great help and he's a great guy," Millar said. "They [DePaul] have a great system in place here--the people are all really nice."
After graduation, Millar is not sure if he will continue his athletic career.
"It all depends on how I finish this year," he said. "Track and field athletes don't make much money so if I think it will be a worthwhile investment, then I will do it."
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