Pride of the Dakota Series - Derek Miles Begins His Olympic Quest on Wednesday

Derek Miles

As Derek Miles makes his swan song in the Olympic Games, he does so with support close and at home.

The USD alumnus and Coyote track and field assistant coach, who begins competition Wednesday (4 a.m. CST), is accompanied in London by his biggest fan, wife Tori, a one-time South Dakota hurdling standout; along with long-time friend and coach Lucky Huber. Also in London will be Huber's wife, Stacy, and their two daughters. In addition, Miles will have the support of his vaulting teammates, American fans in London, and a hoard of supporters rooting him on from South Dakota and beyond.

In the hours leading up to the competition, I have to believe Miles is feeling a rush of emotions with flashes of highlights running through his mind.

I also believe that all of this must be a little bittersweet for the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame inductee. It has to, right? When you have given so much time and effort to a sport, the final competitive go-around has to create anxious moments, both about the upcoming Olympics, as well as the realization that his competitive vaulting career will end. Clearly, a letdown, including a lump in the throat and churning of the stomach,  is expected no matter if Miles earns medal or just takes away memories of a special opportunity.

In a few hours, those moments of reflection will be replaced by a full-out focus on competing. Anything less will mean a quick exit. Since the U.S. Olympic Trials, Miles has worked on rehabbing a sore achilles and preparing for this day the best way he knows how. His first goal tomorrow morning will be to qualify for the finals. Then, who knows?

In reflection, the Tea, S.D., resident has made quite a career of pole vaulting. He has become one of the best in the world, at one point being ranked #1 in the U.S. and top-five in the world.

After a somewhat nondescript prep career in Sacramento, Calif, Miles became a four-time All-American at South Dakota. After finishing his Master's degree at USD, Miles tried his fare in the vaulting game with so-so success. At one point, he almost gave up the sport. Instead on advice of a vaulting friend, he headed to the Earl Bell Vaulting School in Jonesboro, Ark. There, he developed his vaulting game and hasn't looked back.

It was during this time, that Miles became friends with the former American record holder and Olympian Jeff Hartwig, a St. Charles, Mo., native and Arkansas State graduate who served as a mentor.

Hartwig, who now operates Dynamic Sports International, an athlete management and sports marketing company, retired from vaulting after making his second Olympic team at the age of 40 in 2008. Hartwig, called the modern day "Tarzan" by Bell, was a seven-time Drake Relays champion who was ranked as high as #2 in the world and became the first American to vault six meters (19-8 1/4) in 1998.

Four years after Hartwig gave up competitive vaulting, Derek Miles stands in a similar spot. Like his pal Hartwig, Miles is a mentor to others in the field and has helped mold a pair of women's NCAA All-Americans while helping Huber and coach Dave Gottsleben build a prominent collegiate vaulting program at South Dakota. Over the years, Miles, Huber and Gottsleben have organized special pole vaulting events at USD's DakotaDome. Those events feature world class pole vaulters, drawing thousands while capturing the media and public's fancy.

The last one in 2008 included Walker and Miles, who tied for the title by going 18'05 before 2,567 in attendance at the DakotaDome in January of that year. The competition drew seven Olympians including 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Hysong, 2004 Olympic Champion Tim Mack and 2004 Silver Medalist Toby Stevenson, along with Miles, Scott, Walker and Hartwig.

While those competitions brought world-class performers to Vermillion, we are in the here and now with the U.S. vaulting trio of Miles, Brad Walker and Jeremy Scott, all friends and represented by Nike, taking their shot at Olympic glory. All three were ranked in the top five in the USA at the start of the year by Track and Field News (Walker #1, Miles, #2, Scott #4).  

In a perfect world, Miles will win Gold with Walker and Scott also earning medals. While Walker, who has gone 19-4 1/4 this spring, is listed as one of the favorites, Miles' achilles problems continues to make him a long shot. France’s Renaud Lavillenie, who won the World Indoors and dominated the 2012 outdoor season with six of the top 10 jumps (19-7, best), is another leading contender. Also look for for Bjorn Otto of Germany as well as Malte Mohr to compete for the vaulting gold. But, it is wise to remember, in the vaulting game, anything can happen and usually does.

Like others supporting him, I hope that somehow, someway, Miles leaves these Olympics with a medal, hopefully one that shines like gold.

For Derek's sake, I hope that his third time at the Olympics is his charm.

I still am amazed by what Miles has accomplished heading into the 30th Olympiad. He is just the third U.S. three-time Olympic vaulter. The other two include Earl Bell (1976, 1984, 1988; winning bronze in 1984) and Bob Richards (1948, 1952, 1956; earning bronze at the 1948 London games and gold at the 1052 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympics). 

While a three-time Olympian, actually this nearly was Miles' fourth Olympics. In 2000, he lost a jump off with then training partner Chad Hartwig. He made the team in 2004, finishing third at the U.S. Trials and seventh at the Athens games. In 2008, he surprised everyone by defeating Walker and Hartwig at the U.S. Trials. He also finished higher than his two colleagues that year, taking fourth at the 2008 Beijing games.

Some of his milestone accomplishments include winning the 2011 USA Outdoor championship (5.66m/18-6.75) and the 2003 USA Indoor Championship while finishing runner-up at the 2010 USA Indoor Championships and taking second in both the 2003 and 2010 USA Indoor Championships.

  

As for his teammates...

Walker is the American record holder in the pole vault and a two-time Olympian. Born in Aberdeen, S.D., he won the 2012 Olympic Trials. A graduate of the University of Washington, Walker set the American record of 19-9¾ at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in June 2008.

Scott, a native of nearby Norfolk, Neb., was second at the trials and will make his first appearance at the Olympics. A former DIII national champion at Allegheny College, he is believed to be the tallest pole vaulter competitor in history at 6-9. Scott finished second at the USA Outdoors and was the 2009 USA Indoor champion. 

If the Scott's name rings a bell with Coyote fans, both of his sisters, Diana and Terri, competed at USD. 

Terri has been inducted into the SD Track and Field Hall of Honor, ranking as one of the outstanding hurdles in USD history, ranking on USD's top-10 list for hurdlers. T. Scott, who competed in the 100m hurdles, 400m intermediate hurdles and on the 4x400m relay, was a national qualifier in the100m hurdles (outdoor) in 1995. After finishing her eligibility in 1996, she coached USD's school record holder in the men's 100m 200m, 110m hurdles, 55m, 60m and 60m hurdles. She also coached seven of the top-10 placeholders on the USD all-time top-10 list for women's hurdles. She was a coach on 10 NCC conference titles (men and women combined). 

At Norfolk High, Scott was a five-time state medalist (100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and 4x400m relay), placing second in the 100m hurdles at the Nebraska State Meet while setting the school record in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and the shuttle hurdle relay.  

Diana Scott, competed from 2002-05 in the hurdles for the Coyotes. She was a member of the 4x100m shuttle relay that broke the USD school record and was third at the Drake Relays in 2004. She took second in the 100m hurdles and sixth in the 400m hurdles at the 2004 NCC Outdoor Meet. She was a Nebraska state champion a in the 100M and 300M hurdles.

As we wait for the men's pole vault to commence, a lot of memories of Miles will flash as we search out his jumps on You Tube or just remember what we witnessed Miles do at past Olympics, Drake Relays, U.S. Trials, or any number of competitions. Here is one such You Tube video, a 2011 interview by Midcontinent Communications, that captures his career and thoughts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKYRkTaFXD4

I think we all know this Olympics will be Miles' greatest challenge. We all hope that Miles has that career-ending highlight that caps off a brilliant career. But no matter the result, this Californian transplant has exhibited the spirit and effort that makes all of South Dakota and America mighty proud.