Dec. 16, 2008

RENO, NEV. - The University of South Dakota's assistant track and field coach and Olympian, Derek Miles, was awarded the annual Jim Thorpe Award at the 2008 USA Track & Field Annual meeting on Dec., 6, 2008.

The Jim Thorpe award is given annually to the outstanding male athlete in the field events and decathlon category, this award is named for the legendary "greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th Century" (Associated Press) and the winner of the 1912 Olympic decathlon -- with a performance which would have placed him second in the 1948 Olympics.

USD's head track and field coach, Dave Gottsleben commented, "We are very honored and proud to have Derek receive this award. It is a highly significant award in the sport of track and field."

The 35-year old Miles qualified for his second Olympic Team and captured his first ever national outdoor title with his win at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. With a clearance of 5.70m/18-8.25 at the Olympic Games, Miles tied for the bronze medal, but ended up in fourth place because he had one miss at that height, while bronze medalist Denys Yurchenko of the Ukraine cleared it on his first attempt. Then on September 7, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in the German capital in a promotional competition for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany in 2009, Miles soared over a personal best equaling height of 5.85m/19-2.50. A week later Miles was crowned the World Athletics Final winner when taking that title with a 5.80m/19.0.25 clearance on September 14 in Stuttgart. "This year I've sorted something out technically that is making a considerable difference," Miles told the IAAF website. "If I can continue to develop that and make it a permanent fixture in my Pole Vault then even at my age I can jump higher."

Derek Miles is in his seventh season as an assistant track and field coach at the University of South Dakota. "We appreciate Derek's continued commitment to the University of South Dakota and are very proud of his accomplishments," Gottsleben said. "The Jim Thorpe Award is highly prestigious as the past winners of this award are some of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport."

Previous Jim Thorpe Award Winners:

2008 Derek Miles

2007 Brad Walker

2006 Walter Davis

2005 Bryan Clay

2004 Dwight Phillips

2003 Tom Pappas

2002 Adam Nelson

2001 John Godina

2000 Adam Nelson

1999 Jeff Hartwig

1998 Jeff Hartwig

1997 John Godina

1996 Dan OBrien

1995 John Godina

1994 Lance Deal

1993 Dan OBrien

1992 Mike Conley

1991 Mike Powell

1990 Kenny Harrison

1989 Hollis Conway

1988 Randy Barnes

1987 Carl Lewis

1986 Mike Conley

1985 Willie Banks

1984 Al Joyner

1983 Carl Lewis

DEREK MILES PROFILE: Event: Pole vault Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 PR: 5.85m/19-2.50 (2004i & 2008) Born: September 28, 1972 in Sacramento, Calif. Current Residence: Tea, S.D. High School: Bella Vista (Sacramento, Calif.) HS College: University of South Dakota `96 Club: Bell Athletics/Nike Career Highlights: 2008 Olympic Trials champion; 2008 World Athletics Final champ; 4th at 2008 Olympic Games; 3rd at 2004 Olympic Trials; 2003 USA Indoor champion; runner-up at 2003 USA Outdoors; 3rd at 2002 USA Indoors; 2004 Olympian.