Miles denied medal at Olympics

Miles denied medal at Olympics University of South Dakota alum Derek Miles was denied a medal at the 2008 Olympics, finishing fourth in the men��?s pole vault Friday evening, April 22. After being one of just three vaulters to clear the opening height of 17-10 1/2 (5.45 meters) on his first attempt ��? three others passed ��? Miles needed all three attempts to clear 18-4 1/2 (5.6 meters). Miles cleared 18-8 1/2 (5.7 meters) on his second attempt, then passed 18-10 1/2 (5.75 meters) to 19-0 1/2 (5.8 meters). Entering the height ranked third among the remaining five vaulters, he slipped into fourth after Austrailia��?s Steve Hooker cleared the mark on his final attempt. Hooker cleared 5.90 meters (19-4 1/4) on his third attempt in Friday night��?s final, immediately after world indoors champion Yevgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia had failed at his last attempt on the same height and took silver at 5.85 (19-2 1/4). Hooker cleared 5.96 (19-6 1/2) after clinching the gold medal, beating the Olympic record by 1 centimeter (a half inch). Denys Yurchenko of Ukraine cleared 5.70 (18-8 1/4) and still was eligible at greater heights but withdrew with an injury and settled for bronze.