http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/article ... 12d325.txt
Siouxland's other track and field Olympian, University of South Dakota graduate Derek Miles, showed up Saturday for Drake's annual men's pole vault special, knowing full well that his training schedule meant a victory was improbable.
Miles, seventh in the Olympics and the 2003 U.S. indoor national champ, cleared just 18-1 and placed fourth in an event that saw 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong finish third and fifth, also failing to advance beyond 18-1.
Jacob Pauli, a rising Olympic hopeful, won with 18 feet, 8.75 inches while 37-year-old Jeff Hartwig, the American record-holder at 19 feet, 9.25 inches, took second with 18-4.75.
"The conditions were a little tricky with the wind,'' said the 32-year-old Miles. "Actually, though, I just had more of an issue with my run. If I could have gotten my steps a little more dialed in, I could have easily jumped 18-8.
"But it's my first (outdoor) meet of the year. I'm working on a short approach (106 feet rather than his customary 127). You go to the shorter approaches to work on technical aspects. If you're not quite technically where you want to be when a meet comes up, you don't want to sacrifice what you've been working on for the last month.''