Story Miller added another chapter to his family’s long tradition of track/cross country success at Harlan High School as he placed third in the Class A state track meet on Saturday in Lexington.

His jump of 12 feet was a personal best and placed him on the podium with repeating state champion Jake Davidson, from Lloyd Memorial (13-6), and the season’s top ranked vaulter, Logan Isaacs from Bardstown Bethlehem (12-6).

“With such a long, rich, history of track and field excellence at Harlan High we are excited for Story to cement his name among the best,” said Harlan Independent Schools Superintendent C.D. Morton. “He has worked hard in the offseason to put himself in a great position. It paid off at exactly the right time. Looking ahead, he is on a trajectory to do even greater things over the next two years.”

“Story had only competed four times this year with three of them at Harlan County and the other at Knox Central. Even though we compete with each other locally, I appreciate (Harlan County) coach (Ryan) Vitatoe’s support. We are all in this together when we cross that county line and head north on 75,” said Harlan pole vault coach Will Miller. “Harlan always must go through Williamsburg for the regional qualifier where Story jumped 10-6. So, jumping his personal best of 12-0 at state was a surprise for some, but not Story and his circle of vaulter friends. He had jumped 11-9 at HC and has been steadily improving with year-round training and travel for three years to get to this point.”

Miller’s third place is the highest finish for a Harlan High School male athlete in over 30 years, according to a press release from the Harlan Independent Schools. He holds the school’s record, but not the Harlan Independent School District’s record, which is held by Arthur Ramsey Jr., of Rosenwald, who had a vault of 12-4 in 1963, the year before integration.

Will Miller was a cross country and track standout in the 1980s when the Dragons were among the top cross country programs in Class A under the leadership of Leo Miller, who is Will’s father. Leo Miller, a 1965 graduate, was on the first Harlan track team under coach Doc Gray. Lucy Miller, a 1990 graduate who is Story’s aunt, was also a track standout at Harlan and held the school high jump record until Emma Bianchi broke it while winning the state title in 2017. Story’s brother, Mason, starred for the Harlan track/cross program until his graduation in 2017, winning a regional title in cross country and in the 3,200-meter run in track.