Down-To-Earth Vaulters Make Elite Event Even More Special

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.yankton.net/stories/011908/s ... 4690.shtml

Down-To-Earth Vaulters Make Elite Event Even More Special

By: James D. Cimburek
james.cimburek@yankton.net
In an impromptu meeting with the boss Friday, I was asked how things were going. I talked about my morning, which consisted of a press event with the competitors in today's Derek Miles and Friends Pole Vault Competition, mentioning that I had talked to four former Olympians and joked, "You know, a normal Friday."

Here's the crazy thing: It really was "normal."

OK, not the interviewing Olympians part, that happens maybe once a year since Miles, the former University of South Dakota vaulter, started recruiting his friends for this early-season event. But if you just walked in and started talking to the 10 gentlemen who will be competing today, you'd be hard-pressed to tell that they were the best that the U.S. -- and the world -- has to offer in their sport.


Friday morning I sat on the "Coyote Landing," the patio reserved for boosters during football games, and chatted with Olympic gold medalists Tim Mack and Nick Hysong, silver medalist Toby Stevenson, world No. 1 Brad Walker and U.S. record holder Jeff Hartwig, among others. It was a relaxed setting, not just because the only other media there was from USD's Volante, but because of the individuals themselves.

Hartwig, who had been here each time USD has hosted this competition, not only recognized me, but said, "Missed you last year," when I first came over to talk to him. (The event wasn't held last year because Miles was hurt and unable to put everything together.) The other four returnees -- Stevenson, Miles, Norfolk native Jeremy Scott and former Coyote Sam Pribyl -- were equally friendly in their introductions.

Of course I enjoyed talking to the other five as well. Though they are all used to being on the world stage and being interviewed by writers from the biggest media outlets, they treated this small-town guy with respect and didn't show the "I'm too important for this" attitude I've dealt with from some professional athletes.

From what I've seen, they are received by others here as warmly as they treated me.

"We're treated like family when we're here," said Stevenson, making his third trip to Vermillion. "This is a great place to come and pole vault."

If you're looking for an exciting afternoon, head to the DakotaDome today around 3 p.m. (Or earlier if you'd like to take in the Bill Hillenbrand Invitational.) You may never see a field like this again.

[vault3rb0y]

This is a reason i love pole vault. As much as id love to see a ton of media attention toward the vault to give more funding to these elite guys, its real nice to have geniune roll models at the top of this sport. They arent cocky or stuck up, or even obsessed with winning. They want everyone to do their best, and most of all want to have a good time. Plus unlike football, it isnt really a love-hate fan base. Everyone loves em!