Toby and Derek Teleconference

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http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUi ... 7_11_14_49

USATF Teleconference excerpts


USA Track & Field on Monday hosted two teleconferences in promotion of the 2005 Visa Championship Series and the 2005 Millrose Games. USATF CEO Craig Masback first addressed the press, followed by Toby Stevenson - the 2004 Olympic silver medalist and Millrose Games champion in the men's pole vault - and Derek Miles, the 2003 Millrose Games and USA Indoor champion.


Below are excerpts from the teleconferences.

Toby Stevenson and Derek Miles


Q: How do you feel about the chance to win an extra $25,000 in the Visa Championship Series?


Derek Miles: I'm excited. There's always different motivators for different people and different athletes. Obviously nobody's going to turn down the chance to compete for additional money and trips. That's a great incentive. But Millrose for me have always been great because of the tradition. It's so intimate because the fans are so close. It's a great meet to be part of. It's such a classy, well-run meet, and I'm happy I get to go and be part of it again this year.


Toby Stevenson: Being involved in track & field my whole life, I always had heard about the Millrose Games. The money, it's a good opportunity to show we are competing for something for more than just pride. I believe the public will now get the chance to see that this is a livelihood for us. Millrose in 2004 was a factor of what became a breakout season for me. I beat a lot of great guys that night, the top guys in the country. It boosted my confidence level and showed that when people are watching on TV, I can win and compete.


Q: Toby, was it a disappointment to you to win the silver at the Olympics?


Toby Stevenson: I hated losing, but that's just because I'm a competitor. But I'm looking at my silver medal right now. It's on my wall. And it's incredible.


Q: What are your goals for 2005?


Derek Miles: I've been at this 5.80 (meters) area for a couple of years, and it seems like I'm certainly ready for a personal best in the next year or so. My goal has switched. I'm tired of jumping what I've typically been able to jump and I want to explore those new territories of 5.90, 5.95 and of course the 6-meter barrier.


Toby Stevenson: I want the American record and the world record. Anybody who has jumped 6 meters has these thoughts. My goal is to figure out how to do it. I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I can say I'll end my career having taken shots at the world record. I want to jump as high as humanly possible.


Derek Miles: It was a tough couple weeks leading up to the Olympic Trials. Toby had cleared 6 meters, and Tim Mack had come to Jonesboro and jumped 5.90 right in front of us. At the Trials it was so competitive. I've never been in a competition as intense as that - it was amazing. Nine guys jumping 19-2 at the Trials was something I'd never experienced before. That gave me confidence. I was mentally prepared to jump 5.85 or 5.90 at Athens. I really thought I was going to. But I had some problems with pole selections that jiggled my confidence when I ran down there on the runway. The overall experience was an amazing experience to be part of. I can put that in my back pocket and now try to jump higher.


Q: What was it like to return home as a silver medalist?


Toby Stevenson: It was wild. I returned to my home in Texas. I was home for two weeks, and there wasn't an hour in the day when I didn't have something to do. I don't know how the President does it. It wore me ragged. I won a silver medal and I've been using it to help my family out, have a good time, and help the sport of track & field out. I want to increase the visibility of the sport. And doing that, I obviously help myself out because I'm a sucker for the crowd.