Derek Miles (Bella Vista HS, Fair Oaks)

DEREK MILES
Event: Pole vault
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
PR: 5.85m/19-2.50 (2004i & 2008)
Born: September 28, 1972 in Sacramento, Calif.
Current Residence: Jonesboro, Ark.
High School: Bella Vista (Sacramento, Calif.) HS
College: University of South Dakota '96
Coach: Earl Bell/Lucky Huber
Agent: Karen Locke
Club: Bell Athletics/Nike

Career Highlights: 2008 Olympic Trials champion; 2008 World Athletics Final champ; 4th at 2008 Olympic Games; 2003 USA Indoor champion; runner-up at 2003 USA Outdoors; 3rd at 2002 USA Indoors; 2004 Olympian

The 35-year old Miles qualified for his second Olympic Team and captured his first ever national outdoor title with his win at the 2008 Olympic Trials. With a clearance of 5.70m/18-8.25 at the Olympic Games, Miles equaled the third-place height, but ended up in fourth place because he had one miss at that height, while bronze medalist Denys Yurchenko of the Ukraine cleared it on his first attempt. Then on September 7, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in the German capital in a promotional competition for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany in 2009, Miles soared over a personal best equaling height of 5.85m/19-2.50. A week later Miles was crowned the World Athletics Final winner when taking that title with a 5.80m/19.0.25 clearance on 14 in Stuttgart. “This year I've sorted something out technically that is making a considerable difference,” Miles told the IAAF website. “If I can continue to develop that and make it a permanent fixture in my Pole Vault that even at my age I can jump higher. You learn something new on the technical side and it is helping me jump higher.” Miles won his first U.S. title at the 2003 Indoor Championships, and was the top U.S. finisher at the World Outdoor Championships later that summer. He built on that momentum to make his first Olympic Team in 2004. The NCAA Division II runner-up as a senior at the University of South Dakota, Miles was a four-time All-American as a collegian. While at USD, Miles also competed in the hurdles, long jump and as a decathlete favorite hobby is paragliding, an activity he learned from fellow pole vaulter and training partner Tye Harvey…undergraduate degree in history and a masters degree in athletic administration…married Tori Devericks in May 2004.

2008: Olympic Trials champion (5.80m/19-00.25)…4th at Olympic Games (5.70m/18-8.25)…runner-up at Pre Classic (19-0.50)…1st in Berlin (5.85m/19-2.50=PR)…1st at World Athletics Final (5.80m/19-0.25)…ranked #3 in world, #1 U.S. by T&FN…best of 5.85m/19-2.50
2007: Tied for 4th at USA Outdoors (5.60m/18-4.50)…1st at Chula Vista (5.75m/18-10.25)…ranked #7 in U.S. by T&FN…best of 5.75m/18-10.25.
2006: 10th at USA Outdoors (5.40m/17-8.50)...3rd in Jonesboro, Ark. (5.50m/18-0.50); 4th at Millrose (5.60m/18-4.50)...ranked #10 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 5.50m/18-0.50.
2005: Did not compete at USA Indoor or Outdoor Champs...3rd in pole vault at Nike Prefontaine Classic (5.80m/19-00.25)...2nd at Payton Jordan U.S. Open (5.65m/18-06.50)...runner-up at Rieti (5.81m/19-0.75)...ranked #5 in world (#2 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 5.85m/19-2.25.
2004: 3rd at Olympic Trials (5.80m/19-0.25)7th at Olympic Games (5.75m/18-10.25)8th at USA Indoors (5.60m/18-4.50)1st at Jonesboro (5.81m/19-0.75)1st at Reno (5.80m/19-0.25)5th at Nike Prefontaine Classic (5.70m/18-8.25) best of 5.81m/19-0.75.
2003: USA Indoor champion (5.75m/18-10.50)5th at World Indoors (5.70m/18-8.25)2nd at USA Outdoors (5.70m/18-8.25)tied for 6th (5.70m/18-8.50) at the World Outdoor Champs1st at Verizon Millrose Games (5.70m/18-18-8.25)1st at Jonesboro (5.81/19-0.75, U.S. Leader) 1st at Gaz de France (5.76m/18-10.75)best of 5.81m/19-0.75ranked #5 in the world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN.
2002: 3rd at USA Indoors (5.62/18-5.25) 5th at USA Outdoors (5.74m/18-10) 1st at Vermillion (5.82m/19-1i)1st at adidas Midwest Classic (5.70m/18-8.5)3rd at Millrose Games (5.70m/18-8.5)3rd at Nike Prefontaine (5.74m/18-10)1st at Belem (5.70m/18-8.5)ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 5.82m/19-1i.
2001: 10th at USA Outdoors (5.40m/17-8.50)5th at USA Indoors (5.65m/18-6.05)2nd at Millrose Games (5.60m/18-4.50)ranked #8 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 5.82m/19-1.
2000: Tied for 3rd at Olympic Trials (5.63m/18-5.50) but lost spot on Olympic team to training partner Chad Harting when the two had a jump-off at 18-5.5ranked #10 in U.S. by T&FNbest of 5.65m/18-6.50.
1999: Best of 5.35m/17-6.5.
1998: Best of 5.35m/17-6.5.
1997: 10th at USA Outdoors7th at World University Gamesbest of 5.50m/18-0.5.

12/29/08