Track and field’s Milly Garren carries on family legacy at USU
For Utah State track and field senior thrower Milly Garren, this December marks the beginning of her final season competing in Aggie blue. It’s the culmination of four years of steady progress and a lifetime of support from a family that has left its own mark on Utah State Athletics.
Garren didn’t always expect to follow the path of track and field. Growing up, she participated in multiple sports, with soccer as her primary focus. She was recruited by multiple programs as a goalkeeper before the coronavirus disrupted the recruiting process.
That’s when she turned her attention to throwing.
“I originally was being recruited for soccer,” Garren said. “I really didn’t even consider track until my senior year. But Utah State was just where it worked out best for me.”
Choosing USU also meant continuing a family tradition. Her father Bill Garren has worked in the USU athletics department for nearly two decades and is now the university’s assistant athletics director for video operations. Milly’s older sister Maia graduated in 2022 as one of the most decorated throwers in program history, holding multiple school records.
Milly admitted there was some pressure in following that legacy, but it has been a source of support rather than stress.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said. “I get to meet people who know my dad through the years or who competed with my sister. And it’s nice to have so many people backing you up that you don’t even realize are connected somehow.”
That network has helped Milly grow into a key contributor for the Aggies. She’s earned Academic All-Mountain West honors each of the past two years and was named a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete in 2024.
On the field, her progress has been steady. She capped last season with a personal best in the shot put at the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships, her 15.04 meter throw finishing among the league’s best.
“We knew what was coming, but it had been a little shaky all season,” Milly said. “Finally putting it together at a conference meet was just great, and having my family there made it even better.”
The journey hasn’t always been smooth. Adjusting from soccer to track required patience, both physically and mentally.
“It was kind of an adjustment going from soccer, a team sport, to something that feels more individual,” Milly said. “I had to learn how to motivate myself and how to handle my emotions differently. But I’ve seen a lot of improvement, especially in the weight room, which was something I’d never really done before college.”
Milly said Maia, has been a key contributor to that growth. The two overlapped at Utah State briefly, and they continue to train and compete together.
For Milly, it’s a mix of sibling rivalry and unwavering support.
“When I’m not throwing, I’m definitely supportive,” Milly said. “But when it’s my turn, I’m like, ‘It’s my turn now.’”
For Maia, who set the standard as a record-setting athlete, watching her younger sister chase those same goals has been rewarding.
“I always want her to do better than me,” Maia said. “There’s no other person I’d rather see beat my record. I’ll give her a hard time, of course — that’s my job as the big sister — but I’d be thrilled if she broke them.”
She also understands the unique challenges of a senior season.
“Athletes want that last year to be the one that stands out,” Maia said. “But you don’t always know how it’s going to go. I just keep telling her, ‘Have fun. Enjoy it. This is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’”
Bill has been instrumental in both daughters’s careers, even beyond his role at Utah State. Known across the Mountain West as one of the best in his field, Bill has won conference Video Coordinator of the Year honors ten times in his career, including five straight from 2021–25.
Away from his office, he played the role of coach and motivator. It was Bill who first introduced throwing to his daughters.
“My dad just randomly goes, ‘Hey, there’s a sport called track and field. You don’t have to run. I think it’d be worth giving it a shot,’” Maia recalled. “That’s really where it all started for us.”
Since they were young, Bill encouraged his children in athletics, guiding them through high school and supporting the pursuit of their own competitive paths.
Milly said her dad’s role at Utah State has been a source of pride for her and has helped her connect with other athletes.
“He works closely with the football team, and at conferences, they’re all saying, ‘Good luck’ or ‘Congrats’ when I PR,” she said. “It just feels like you have so many people behind you.”
As her senior year begins, Milly’s goals are simple. She’d love to see her name etched into the record books alongside her sister, but she’s not making that the focus.
“The records would be great,” she said. “But mostly, I just want to see how far I can go and keep improving.”
The Aggies will open the 2025–26 track and field indoor season on Dec. 10 at BYU.