By KEN HAMWEY

Staff Sports Writer

Natick High coach Matt Miller wouldn’t mind if his boys indoor track team emulates the success that his cross-country team achieved last fall.

The Redhawks’ cross-country runners finished second in the Bay State Conference Meet and the Division 1B State Meet. They were fifth at the All-State Meet and managed to finish 10th at the Nike New England Regionals in New York.

The 59-year-old Miller, who’s in his 10th year as coach of both the boys indoor and outdoor squads, has set several goals for his indoor contingent. “We’re aiming for top individual efforts in the BSC Meet and to get high placements in the post-season events, which include the Division 1B, All-State, and Indoor National Meets,’’ Miller noted. “Another goal is for our athletes to lower their personal-best times.’’

Last year’s indoor team posted a 3-2 conference record and finished third in the BSC Championship Meet. At the BSC Meet, John Bianchi was second in the mile and Steven Tafmizi was sixth in the shot put. Bianchi advanced to the All-State Meet and placed eighth in the mile.

Miller is upbeat about his team’s outlook because the Redhawks have some solid overall strengths. “We’re athletic, our athletes are coachable and we’ve got good team chemistry,’’ he said. “Our kids have a high track IQ and we’ve got experience. We lost nine seniors from last year’s team but have 12 returnees with experience.’’

Natick’s sprinters personify many of the strengths Miller mentions. Four of them include seniors Nolan Cloutier (hurdles, 55-meter, 300-meter, and pole vault), Rex Robbins (55-meter), Tommy Showstead (55-meter, 300-meter and relays), and Nick Fernandes (300-meter and 600-meter).

“Nolan has speed, he’s versatile and he’s committed to learning all the basics and nuances of a difficult event like the pole vault,’’ Miller said. “A leader by example, he holds the school record for both the indoor vault (11 feet, 9 inches) and the outdoor vault (13 feet, 6 inches). Rex has speed, is a very hard-worker, and his 55-meter starts are exceptional. He’s diligent in practices, staying low and powerful in the early going. In the spring, he’s outstanding in the javelin.

“Tommy is a good leader whose success comes from hard work. He’s coachable and very fast. Nick also is fast and very dedicated. He improved greatly last year and he’s a good teammate and a quality leader.’’

Miller also has some top-notch distance runners. Two of them are seniors — Will Catching (600-meter and 1,000-meter) and Joe Vogel (mile and two-mile).

“Will has good endurance and his speed is a plus,’’ Miller said. “He works hard, leads by example and is mentally tough. He was our No. 5 runner in cross-country. His best time in the 1,000-meter run is 2:40.03. Joe is a leader by example, is mature and a hard-worker. His endurance is consistently strong, undoubtedly because he spent lots of time training last summer.’’

Two juniors are also high-quality distance runners. They are Freddie van der Velden (mile and two-mile) and Bianchi (1000-meter and mile).

“Freddie is very dedicated, he’s talented, gritty and never quits,’’ Miller said. “He sets high goals and he’s a great teammate. His best time in the two-mile was as a sophomore, compiling a time of 9:44.51. He was our No. 2 runner in cross-country and also was a BSC all-star last fall.’’

Bianchi, who’s a BSC all-star in cross-country and indoor and outdoor track, is a highly decorated competitor. Besides his indoor laurels mentioned earlier, he was seventh in the outdoor mile at the All-State Meet and his personal best in the outdoor mile is 4:16.31. He holds school records in the cross-country 5k and the outdoor mile.

“John is very humble, very competitive and exceptionally tough,’’ Miller emphasized. “He’s also got great speed and is a great teammate.’’

Another top-level distance runner is sophomore Callum Doyle, who competes in the mile and two-mile. “Callum was a conference all-star in cross-country last fall,’’ Miller offered. “He’s determined, aggressive and mentally and physically tough. He doesn’t hesitate to push the pace.’’

A native of St. Louis, Miller’s philosophy of coaching focuses on reaching one’s potential and achieving personal bests. He also wants his athletes to enjoy their sports journey. “If athletes are having fun and competing at a peak level, then winning will follow,’’ he said0.

Miller, who’s married and has two children, wants his competitors to learn valuable life lessons from sports and he’s got a list that he views as important. “Some key lessons are learning how to be quality leaders and teammates; how to overcome adversity and be resilient; and to set goals and do the work to achieve one’s objectives,’’ he noted. “Learning to be self-disciplined is also very important. I’ve seen talented kids who lack the discipline to reach their potential.’’

A social-studies teacher at Natick for 25 years, Matt Miller has helped a plethora of cross-country and track-and-field competitors reach their peak and enjoy success in post-season meets.

The 2024-25 boys track team at Natick High, which lost its opening meet against Brookline, should still be well-positioned to garner its share of success as the season moves into high gear.