Running track has been one of Milan Ming's passions since she started running at the age of 7. Ming’s parents exposed her to a range of sports from gymnastics to tennis, and she fell in love with running. The high school track star has already been in hundreds of track meets. Now a senior at Atlanta Girls’ School, she is a nationally-ranked, All-American high school athlete.
Ming says she was inspired by track stars such as Sydney McLaughlin, Sanya Richards-Ross, legendary Florence Griffith-Joyner, and Allyson Felix, whom she says is her “shero.”
“I look up to her grace, talent and the way that she carries herself on and off the track,” Ming says.
While there were moments when Ming thought about quitting due to the pressure, she persevered.
“Finding a balance between track, school, and family has not always been easy,” shares Ming. She found herself getting home late from practice with loads of schoolwork left to do. Practice included running the track, strength and conditioning training sometimes three to four days per week. Ming found a way to get her work done by setting aside time before practice, along with having supportive parents and teachers.
She is candid about having achieved All-American status: “My journey with track has not been easy and for me to accomplish something that has been a goal of mine for years,” Ming says.
Her commitment has paid off. Ming competed with titles in 2018 for the GISA 3A 100-meter, State Record Holder for the 200m and 400m State Champions. In 2019, she was named the AAU Junior Olympics 400m National Champion All American, and AAU Club Nationals 400m Runner Up, and New Balance Nationals Outdoors 400 Championship Finalist. Her focus within track and field is being a sprinter.
Ming wants to be an inspiration to others by showing that through hard work and dedication “no dream is too big,” she says. Her goal is to become a professional athlete, focusing on meets like NCAA, SEC, IAAF championships, and later sports broadcasting, modeling and/or acting after college. Her biggest dream is to compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris and win a gold medal.
Ming is receiving a full scholarship in track and field from Vanderbilt University where she will be attending college.
