When Chugiak High School sophomore Fred Millen III stepped onto the track this spring, he wasn't just racing against opponents—he was racing against his own recovery. Coming off surgery for a torn meniscus suffered during football season, the talented sprinter didn't exactly burst out of the blocks. But over the past month, Millen has been nothing short of electric, posting record-breaking times both individually and as the anchor of the Mustangs' 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.

"It was hard to get started, but it's been going really well," Millen said. "I have good team support and coaches who really helped me through that and get to where I am now."

The highlight of the season so far came at the Liberty Bell Invitational in Denver, Colorado, where Millen and his teammates delivered performances that turned heads across the country. "We didn't really think we were going to do very good," he admitted. "All the times in the Lower 48 were kind of intimidating at first, but we actually went down there and won the meet coming from Alaska."

While official state records can only be set at the Alaska state meet, Millen still made history by clocking the fastest time ever recorded by an Alaska high school athlete in the 200 meters at 21.88 seconds. He also anchored the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams, which posted all-time best marks of 42.61 and 1:28.18, respectively.

"He came into the season looking great and has just been getting faster ever since," said Chugiak coach Luke Steele.

For Millen, representing Alaska on a national stage while achieving times never before seen from the state's age group made the accomplishment feel even more special. "It was amazing to go down there and compete with some really good athletes and some really good teams," he said.

As the anchor, Millen takes pride in the trust his teammates place in him to close out races strong. "It's great that they trust me with that after seeing the times I've run," he said. "They're all running fast times too. We're all up there."

Though track and field is often seen as an individual sport, at Chugiak, it feels like a team effort. Millen's toughest competition often comes from his own teammates, pushing him to improve every week. "It's amazing that it's not just me," he said. "I have a really good team around me and they push me through practice so I can continue to improve every week."

Steele also credits Millen's fellow sprinters—Elijah Udall, Ahmir Walker, and Luke Poland—for not only challenging him but also driving the program's overall success. With that kind of support and momentum, Millen is proving that sometimes the best comebacks start with a slow start.