VERMILLION, S.D. (Jan. 25, 2005)--The University of South Dakota will host four of the top pole vaulters in the world on Saturday, Jan. 29, in the DakotaDome, in conjunction with USD's John Dalton Open. The Derek Miles and Friends Pole Vault competition will begin at 2 p.m.

In addition to former Coyote and DakotaDome record-holder (19-1) Derek Miles, who finished seventh at the Athens Olympics, USD will host Olympians Toby "Crash" Stevenson and Jeff Hartwig. Jeremy Scott, a Norfolk, Neb. native will also participate.

Miles, a 1996 graduate of USD, currently resides in Jonesboro, Ark., and works as an academic advisor at Arkansas State. He holds a personal best of 19-1 1/4 and trains with Coach Earl Bell, the former record holder. Miles was the USA Indoor champion in 2003 and 5th at the World Outdoors that year.

Stevenson, of Chula Vista, Calif. and graduate of Stanford, was the silver medalist at Athens with a personal best 19-8 1/4. A member of the Nike Track club, Stevenson was the 2004 USA Indoor champion. At Stanford, Stevenson was a six-time All-American, including a national title in 1998.

Hartwig, the American record-holder at 19-9 1/2, will compete in Vermillion for the second time. A resident of Jonesboro, Ark., who trains with Miles, is a four-time USA Outdoor champion (1998, '99, '02, '03) and a three-time Olympian. Hartwig was the USA Indoor runner up at 18-10 1/4.

Scott, labeled as the future of the vault, stands at 6-10. He competed for the national champion University of Arkansas in 2004, placing fourth at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships. He finished second at the USA Indoor in 2003 and holds a personal record of 18-8. Both of Scott's sisters, Teri and Diana, ran at USD.

All athletes will sign autographs and visit with fans following the competition.