Derek Miles News

Four area pole vault athletes have not quite put down their poles for the summer.

Parkston's Alex Muntefering went to Oregon last week as a rookie in elite national competitions against college-age runners, while Derek Miles arrived with more than a decade of experience as a world-class pole vaulter.

Lashawn Merritt, center, runs to victory in the 400m final ahead of Kerron Clement, right, and Gil Roberts during day 3 of the USA Track and Field National Championships on Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

EUGENE - Dwight Phillips hopes to break the men's long jump world record some day.

University of South Dakota graduate Derek Miles qualified for the 2009 World Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday with a second-place finish in the pole vault at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.

LaShawn Merritt and Sanya Richards made their 400-meter races look like strolls around the track Saturday, each cruising to titles at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Brad Walker hadn't vaulted this season before showing up Saturday for the USA Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field.

After Stephanie Brown Trafton won an Olympic gold medal last August in Beijing, it would have been easy for the Galt resident to relax, savor the spotlight and ease up on the throttle.

Tim Mack isn't the favorite to win the men's pole vault at Saturday's U.S.A. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but he's fine with that.

Dwight Phillips, Brad Walker and Jesse Williams will lead a talented group of men's horizontal and vertical men's jumpers at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 25-28 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Mano a mano, head to head, No. 1 vs. No. 2. However you say it, all the jumps at the 35th Prefontaine Classic on June 7th will feature intense competition among athletes who are leading the world in their events.

Japanese sprinter Naoki Tsukahara won the men's 100 meters on Saturday to capture his first title at the Osaka Grand Prix.

The high school girls pole vault didn't make its Dakota Relays debut until 1997, when Huron's Megan Nelson claimed the title by clearing the bar at 8 feet, 6 inches.

Cold, windy and rainy conditions did not keep Jeremy Wariner, Alan Webb, Suzy Powell-Roos, Chaunte Howard, Tiffany Williams, Derek Miles and many other U.S. stars from turning in outstanding performances Saturday at the 100th running of the Drake Relays on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

More than ever, history is setting the Drake Relays pace. The 7,392 athletes competing Thursday through Saturday in Des Moines will take the final lap of a track and field centennial.

West Des Moines, Ia. - Once Mark Hollis secured the victory, he captivated the crowd.

A record 43 Olympians have committed to compete in the 100th edition of the Drake Relays.

For almost her whole life, Amy Fryt has had lofty ambitions. The sophomore pole vaulter has dreamed of going to the Olympics since she first stepped onto a gymnastics mat as a child.

" The University of South Dakota has accepted an invitation to become a member of The Summit League, Commissioner Tom Douple announced today at a press conference on the USD campus in Vermilion, S.D. USD will begin league competition during the 2011-12 academic year and will have full eligibility for all regular season and tournament championships ...

For Stacy Dragila and Amy Acuff, it's time to savor one last outdoor track and field season, say goodbye and cherish the memories.