By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Brady Labine remembers the first time he crossed paths with Ryan Miller – back when both Saint John's University track and field standouts were freshmen at the start of the 2018 season.

"He came moseying in wearing a t-shirt and just looking kind of laid-back," Labine recalls with a chuckle. "We'd all heard this guy was a fast sprinter. But when he walked in, no one thought it was him. He didn't look the part, and I didn't really know what to make of him.

"But after talking to him for like 30 seconds, I realized he was just a giant goofball. I mean that in a good way. He's made my college career so much more fun just by being around. It's funny because he and I have been together a long time now. It's been quite a journey and I'm really glad to have had him along for the ride."

The two have managed to accomplish some very big things during their time in Collegeville. Both earned slots on the Johnnies' 4x100-meter relay team as freshmen, joining fellow freshman Nick Gannon '21 and then-junior Drew Schoenbauer '19 at the NCAA Division III national outdoor meet where they finished 12th (41.32 seconds).

One year later, the same four returned to capture a national championship as Miller turned in a memorable anchor leg, bringing his team from fifth to first place with a time of 40.92.

Then came 2020, when the outdoor portion of the schedule was cancelled after the onset of COVID-19. But Labine and Miller picked right back where they left off when competition was able to resume last season, joining then-junior Jack Young and then-sophomore Kevin Arthur to finish fourth at outdoor nationals in the 4x100 (40.86).

With all four runners back again this season, expectations are running high.

"The national championship feels like it was a long time ago, I can tell you that," said Miller, who along with Labine is back for a fifth year because of an NCAA ruling allowing athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the impact of COVID-19.

"But that's one of the goals for this year – to get back to the glory of (being atop) that stage. We've all been working really hard to get there.

"And that's not just our relay. From a team perspective, we're more ready coming into a season than I've ever seen us at this point."

A few team members (pole vault, throws) already competed at the Cobber Open in Moorhead last Saturday. But the Johnnies officially open the indoor portion of their schedule when they host Macalester and Minnesota-Morris in a triangular beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 29) in the Donald McNeely Spectrum.

"I'm really excited about our chances this spring, including in the relay," said Labine, a music education major who student-taught at an elementary school in Maple Grove and a middle school in New Brighton during the fall semester.

"We have all four guys back from nationals last year. That was the formula that worked for us in 2019. We had a taste of it the year before, then we brought all four guys back again and it worked out.

"I think Kevin looks amazing this year. I'm so excited to see what he can do. And Jack had a great meet at nationals a year ago."

Then there's Miller, who finished 10th in the 100-meter dash as a freshman (10.93), second as a sophomore in 2019 (10.22) and third last year (10.572).

"The 100 is really fun, but if I'm being truly honest, the 4x100 is by far my favorite event," the English major said. "You have to have all four guys operating as a unit. It's such a fun event because it really brings out that team aspect. You form bonds with the other three guys."

Even when they're busting your chops.

"Brady loves messing with me," Miller said with a laugh. "I'll make a remark, he'll respond in a sarcastic manner, then I'll just go 'I'm going to get back to running now.' 

"But it's all in fun. We've grown a lot closer as the years have gone on. We're really good friends and we have a great relationship."

"It's funny because I haven't been practicing with the whole team a lot yet, just because I'm also a hurdler and working on that can be tough with everyone else in the (Donald McNeely Spectrum)," Labine said. "But the first time I ran into Ryan this semester, he yelled out 'Brady, I miss you. You need to make fun of me. I miss that!' 

"So he's good with it."