And for Miller, who went from a year of focusing on distance workouts to drills focusing on her main events, the 100 and 200 freestyles, that bodes well. The C-USA meet and her best shot at the NCAA championships is four weeks away and up to now, Huston’s goal for her is to taper, or rest, for a big-time showing at that meet.

“She’s had a couple of times where she’s raced against high-level competition better than she has before,” Huston said. “At the Nike meet at Irvine, Calif., she swam the first leg of the 400 freestyle relay. UCLA led off with a girl that has scored at the NCAA championships, The girl beat her by just a couple of tenths of a second. (Miller) was fast and aggressive, had a great swim.

“At LSU this past week, she won the 50 freestyle with her best time this year, 23.65, and beat a couple of LSU swimmers. Carlyann hasn’t been at NCAA championships yet and she beat at least one among those two who had.”

Swimmers competing at the NCAAs are among the world’s best. Might that naturally lead to consideration of — dare we dream — a shot at the U.S. Olympic team for someone who has proven she can compete at the major college level?

The trials are June 29-July 6.

“Without getting to the NCAAs, that’s not even a concern and getting there is my focus for now,” Miller said. “But to do that going into my senior year, that would be wonderful.”

For Miller, it’s a far different pool that the ones she won state championships in as a Lady Tiger. She also swam club competition in Tulsa.

NCAAs, Olympics or none, a Rice degree carries a lot of gold potential too.

Carly Miller — back then

Carly Miller at FGHS

Freshman year — state champion in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Sophomore year — state champion in the 500 freestyle and runner-up in the 50 freestyle

Junior year — state champion in the 50 freestyle and runner-up in the 500.

Senior year — set state record in winning the 50 freestyle (23.57) and runner-up in the 100 freestyle.