ATHENS, GREECE - Derek Miles of the U.S. Track and Field made his final attempt at the qualifying height of 5.7 meters and is among the 16 male vaulters to qualify for the finals in the pole vault at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Miles, who will jump in the pole vault finals at about 8:45 a.m. on Friday (August 27) morning, made his first two jumps (5.5 meters, 5.6 meters) before passing to the qualifying height of 5.7 meters which he made on his third try.

Both of USA's other vaulters also advanced with Toby Stevenson clearing 5.7 on his first attempt. Tim Mack made the qualifying height on his second try.

Other finalists included the reigning European champion, Alejsander Averbukh of Isreal, who cleared 5.7 on his first attempt. Reigning world champion Giuseppe Gibilisco of Italy, who has struggled much of the year, also advanced. However many of the top vaulters did not move on, including the 2001 world champion Dmitri Markov of Australia. Okkert Brits of RSA, one of the few vaulters to go over six meters, did not advance.

Notes: Miles is a 1996 USD graduate and qualified for the Olympics by finishing third at the U.S. Trials earlier this summer. His college coach Lucky Huber is in Athens and providing advice and counsel to Miles. Also, former USD SID Mike Mahon is serving as head of press relations for track and field at the Olympics.