Peyton Miller: A Fresh Start and a Relentless Drive to Improve
When Peyton Miller moved to Wright City, she found herself stepping into a new chapter of her athletic journey. “When I first moved to Wright City, I joined the cross country team with the encouragement of Coach Crabtree,” she said. That decision sparked a passion for the sport, though her journey has been anything but conventional. After taking a year off to focus on basketball and softball, Miller is ready to see what this cross country season has in store.
Her biggest inspiration to run comes from within her own family. “My mom was a big part of it—she qualified and medaled in the Junior Olympics when she was younger, and it made me want to do the same,” Miller shared. That legacy fuels her motivation as she pushes herself each day to be the best athlete she can be.
Though she’s returning to the sport after a break, Miller knows that mental resilience will be one of her biggest hurdles. “I feel like my biggest challenge is myself. I’ll get so upset if I don’t do well in a meet. My head tells me to just give up,” she admitted. But she’s learned how to battle those doubts. “The way you overcome that is to just stay positive and know that you can do whatever you set your mind to. And know it’s okay to not have a good day sometimes.”
Outside of running, Miller stays busy. “My current training is in basketball as we just won the regional championship. After basketball ends, I will start my training for track,” she said. Balancing multiple sports has only made her a stronger competitor, and she looks forward to challenging herself even further this season.
As she looks to the future, Miller has big aspirations both in and out of sports. “I think I would like to play in college while I pursue my education as an ultrasound tech and start a family and be very financially successful,” she said. No matter where her journey takes her, one thing is certain—Miller is determined to make the most of every opportunity that comes her way.
