Nassau (Bahamas), Jul 8 (IANS/CMC): Former World Youth and Junior 400 metres champion Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas is now a professional athlete.

Miller, who won the 2013 NCAA Indoor 400m and the outdoor runner-up, has decided to skip the remainder of her college eligibility at the University of Georgia (UG) and compete professionally.

Her father, Shaun Miller, has confirmed that the Austin Sealy, winner for the most outstanding athlete at the 2013 Carifta Games, was offered a deal with the Adidas shoe company.

The deal calls for Miller to complete her studies in Business and Management at UG, but not as a student-athlete.

“She was on the collegiate scene and we were planning on leaving her in there, but some of the shoe companies were really interested in her and when Adidas made the offer to make the adjustments to keep her in school and still allow her to compete on the pro circuit, we decided to go with that,” Miller said.

“I was very proud of her,” said her father, who coached her prior to leaving for Auburn. “I was very pleased to see how many shoe companies were interested in her and what they were offering. It was very impressive. She’s still young, as far as going on the circuit. But she has an agent and her coach will travel with her whenever necessary."

There are also provisions in her contract for her parents, Shaun and Mabelene Miller, to also travel to some of her meets overseas.