Derek Miles qualifies for finals
of Olympic pole vault competition

Derek Miles, associate director of Advisement Services at Arkansas State University, today qualified for the pole vault finals at the Olympic Games in Athens.

Miles, 31, cleared the qualifying height of 5.7 meters (18 feet, 8 1/4 inches) on his third and final attempt.  He joins the group of 16 finalists who will compete Friday evening.  All three American vaulters, including Toby Stevenson and Timothy Mack, reached the qualifying round.

More information about Miles may be found on the Athens 2004 Olympic web site:
http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParticipantBiography?pid=318705&rsc=ATM072901

Results of the qualifying rounds are also available:
http://www.athens2004.com/en/AthleticsMen/results?rsc=ATM072900

Miles finished third in the Olympic Track and Field Trials with a jump of 5.8 meters (19 feet, 1/4 inch) to earn his trip to Athens.

As a staff member in ASU's Wilson Center for Academic Advising and Learning Assistance, he assists students with choosing a major and works with the Restart and Early Alert Programs.

He studied (and vaulted) at the University of South Dakota, earning a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in athletic administration before heading south.  He and his wife, Tori, have been married since May.



Miles (at left) and the other U.S. pole vaulters pose at the Olympics.

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