March 4, 2009
ATLANTA – – Georgia Tech track & field standout Jerome Miller has been cleared by the NCAA to compete in the majority of the 2009 outdoor season, it was announced Tuesday. The Stafford, Va. native will have to sit out just one meet before resuming his senior season.
Miller, who unknowingly competed while ineligible for four 2009 indoor meets due to a clerical error, had his performances removed from the NCAA books once the error was discovered in February. Included in those marks was an NCAA-leading height of 7’5″ in the high jump.
“We are very pleased that the NCAA came to a decision,” men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale said. “We are looking very much forward to having Jerome back with us for the outdoor season.”
The mistake stemmed from last indoor season, Miller’s fourth at Tech. He competed in the first meet of the season, in December 2007. At the end of the semester, Miller was declared academically ineligible. He was forced to miss the remainder of the indoor season and the ensuing outdoor season, which he redshirted.
“I’m glad that I only have to miss just one outdoor meet,” Jerome Miller said. “I just want to focus on my jumping, get back out there in competition, and help my team.”
Miller will miss the first meet of the ’09 outdoor season, the Hurricane Invitational, but will be eligible to compete at the Yellow Jacket Invitational, March 27-28, on the Georgia Tech campus. He has been practicing every day since being notified that he was ineligible to compete indoors.
“Last week I had the best practices I have ever had,” Miller added. “I am in the best jump shape I have ever been in, and my form and approach are really coming together, so I really expect big things to come.”
