ST JOHNS, Fla. — It seems unfair.

Christian Miller went into the track and field Olympic trials with specific goals. He ended up not finishing in the top three in the 100-meter sprint, and therefore did not earn an automatic spot on the Olympic team.

Miller and his coach, Ricky Fields knew that finishing top three would have been a long shot for the 18-year-old. He just graduated from Creekside High School in St. Johns County and despite already achieving some incredible accolades, including a ton on the track, this stage was just a bit different.

“In the finals, when I was lined up to previous world champions and Olympians, it was a crazy moment because I used to watch all of them and think these guys are amazing,” Miller told First Coast News. “So, to think I was on the same line with them was amazing.”

But, well within reach for Miller was hitting the top six.

“If you make the top six, then you are in the running for the relay pool,” Fields said.

So, they set out to make that, and let the chip fall where they fall.

Miller ran the 100-meter final and finished in 5th place. And for the next week, a muted celebration from him and his coach. He was awarded the Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Player of the Year, the first for an athlete in any sport in Northeast Florida.

But, the phone call from Team USA was the accolade Miller and his family wanted this time. However, it was a phone call that did not come.

Even though Miller finished top five and Team USA takes six men to be in the 4×100 pool to run the relay race in Paris, he did not get selected. To he and everyone close to him, fairness was out the window.

“The guys in the top three that beat him, that’s one thing,” Fields said. “But everyone else, he has beaten on the track this year, some multiple times.”

Team USA Track and Field has several criteria when picking the relay team. They have the final say who goes to Paris in this case, ultimately. One of those criteria is finishing high in the Olympic trials. We know Miller did that by finishing 5th.

However, world ranking also comes into play. Miller isn’t ranked as highly as some professionals since he has not run in professional meets. He has maintained amateur status because he is running for the University of Georgia in the fall.

Team USA also looks at how many professional relays athletes run in. Considering Miller’s age and status, he didn’t have experience there.

But at the end of the day, Miller did all the things he was supposed to do: He ran trials, finished with sub 10 second times and was in the top five.

But, as with many things in life, this was not the fair outcome.

If Miller was mad, that would be understandable, expected even.

However, he was not. In fact, Miller was extremely level-headed when he spoke to First Coast News about the potential of being left off Team USA. He said his faith makes him confident.

“God brought me to this position, being fifth in the relay pool,” Miller said. “So if that was a part of his plan, then they’ll end up selecting me for the relay and you guys can watch me again down in Paris. But if that’s not his plan, I know I had an amazing season with amazing points that I made and some amazing milestones that I hit that will stay with history for the rest of my life.”

“I’m pretty proud of him,” Fields added. “He’s a good kid, and I’d rather have a good human being than a great track athlete and he’s a great guy.”