Derek Miles

Birth dateSep 28, 1972

BirthplaceSacramento, United States

Height1.91 m

Weight-

Derek Miles is an American pole vaulter born on September 28, 1972, in Sacramento, California. Standing 191 cm, he grew up in Tea, South Dakota and attended Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks, California before competing for the University of South Dakota.

Miles competed at three consecutive Summer Olympics, placing seventh in Athens 2004 and initially fourth in Beijing 2008. After Ukrainian Denys Yurchenko was disqualified for doping in November 2016, Miles received the Olympic bronze medal in April 2017, his most prestigious achievement. His personal best of 5.85 metres was set in September 2008 in Berlin.

Miles trained with legendary coach Earl Bell at Bell Athletics in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He is currently an assistant coach for the South Dakota Coyotes track and field team, sharing his experience and Olympic medal-winning expertise with the next generation of vaulters.

Key facts

Pole Vault

5.85

#90 all-time

2012 season best

5.60

Feb 2, 2012 · Vermillion, SD (USA) (i)

2012 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 bronze

Age

53 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Pole Vault 5.85 (#90 all-time), 2012 season best 5.60 (Feb 2, 2012, Vermillion, SD (USA) (i)) · Olympic Games: 1 bronze · 53 years old

Personal bests

5.85

#90 all-time

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	-	-	1	1

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2012	PV	5.60	-	Feb 2, 2012	↓	Vermillion, SD (USA) (i)
2011	PV	5.72	-	Jul 27, 2011	↓	Jockgrim (GER)
2010	PV	5.81	-	Jul 21, 2010	↓	Jockgrim (GER)
2009	PV	5.75	-	Jun 27, 2009	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
2008	PV	5.85	-	Sep 7, 2008	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
2007	PV	5.75	-	Aug 21, 2007	↓	Chula Vista, CA (USA)
2006	PV	5.65	-	Feb 8, 2006	↓	Göteborg (SWE) (i)
2005	PV	5.85	-	Feb 12, 2005	↓	Donetsk (UKR) (i)
2004	PV	5.81	-	Jun 13, 2004	↓	Jonesboro, AR (USA)
2003	PV	5.81	-	May 28, 2003	↓	Jonesboro, AR (USA)
2002	PV	5.82	-	Feb 16, 2002	↓	Vermillion, SD (USA) (i)
2001	PV	5.82	-	Jun 17, 2001	↓	Jonesboro, AR (USA)
2000	PV	5.65	-	May 19, 2000	↓	Jonesboro, AR (USA)
1999	PV	5.40	-	Mar 22, 1999	↓	Reno, NV (USA) (i)
1998	PV	5.35	-	Mar 21, 1998	↓	Minneapolis, MN (USA)
1997	PV	5.50	-	Apr 25, 1997	↓	Des Moines, IA (USA)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
PV	5.33	-	Aug 15	Albi DécaNation, Albi
PV	NM	-	Aug 3	The XXX Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, London
PV	5.41	-	Jul 7	Champaign Gill Athletics Field Fest, Champaign, IL - Elite Event
PV	5.60	-	Jun 28	Eugene USA Championships
PV	5.30	-	Jun 25	Eugene USA Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
PV	5.52	-	Feb 11	Ames Iowa State Cyclone Classic, Ames, IA (i)
PV	5.60	-	Feb 2	Vermillion Bill Hillenbrand Invitational, Vermillion, SD (i)
PV	5.52	-	Jan 21	Minneapolis Jack Johnson Classic, Minneapolis, MN (i)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
PV	5.20	-	Sep 18	Nice DécaNation, Nice
PV	5.46	-	Sep 8	Budapest Hopp-Parádé, Budapest
PV	5.65	-	Aug 29	IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
PV	5.65	-	Aug 27	IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
PV	5.60	-	Aug 27	IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
PV	5.22	-	Jul 30	Gyulai István Memorial - Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, Puskás Ferenc Stadion, Budapest
PV	5.72	-	Jul 27	Jockgrim Stabhochsprung-Meeting, Jockgrim
PV	5.60	-	Jul 22	Monaco Herculis
PV	5.70	-	Jul 2	Champaign Gill Athletics Factory Vault, Champaign, IL
PV	5.66	-	Jun 25	Eugene USA Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
PV	5.22	-	Jun 11	New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline
PV	5.55	-	Jun 3	Innsbruck Int. Golden Roof Challenge, Innsbruck
PV	5.62	-	May 29	Hengelo Fanny Blankers-Koen Games, FBK Stadium, Hengelo
PV	5.42	-	May 26	Roma Compeed Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Promotional Events
PV	5.72	-	May 21	-
PV	5.52	-	Apr 30	Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA - Invitational Events
PV	5.62	-	Apr 27	West Des Moines, IA (i)
PV	5.65	-	Feb 18	Vermillion USD Twilight, Vermillion, SD (i)
PV	5.45	-	Feb 12	Donetsk Pole Vault Stars, Donetsk (i)
PV	5.40	-	Feb 8	Meeting du Pas-de-Calais, Liévin (i)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
PV	5.30	-	Sep 19	Kawasaki Super Track & Field Meet, Kawasaki
PV	5.60	-	Sep 11	Annecy DécaNation, Annecy
PV	5.75	-	Sep 5	IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup, Poljud Stadion, Split
PV	5.75	-	Sep 4	IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup, Poljud Stadion, Split
PV	5.10	-	Aug 31	Budapest Hopp-Parádé, Budapest
PV	5.65	-	Aug 27	Bruxelles Memorial van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - EU Cup
PV	5.62	-	Aug 24	Villeneuve d'Ascq Meeting Lille Métropole, Villeneuve d'Ascq
PV	5.61	-	Aug 22	Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
PV	5.61	-	Aug 13	Crystal Palace AVIVA London Grand Prix, Crystal Palace, London - Diamond Discipline
PV	5.81	-	Jul 21	Jockgrim Stabhochsprung-Meeting, Jockgrim
PV	5.70	-	Jul 16	Paris Meeting Areva, Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis - Diamond Discipline
PV	5.58	-	Jul 11	Kortrijk Guldensporenmeeting, Kortrijk
PV	5.50	-	Jul 8	Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline
PV	5.60	-	Jun 25	Des Moines USA Championships
PV	5.40	-	Jun 12	New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline
PV	5.20	-	Jun 8	Montreuil-sous-Bois Meeting Alma Athlé Tour, Montreuil-sous-Bois
PV	5.40	-	Jun 4	Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo - Promotional Events
PV	5.60	-	Jun 2	Békéscsaba Hopp-Parádé, Békéscsaba
PV	5.80	-	May 29	Sacramento California Invitational Relays, Sacramento, CA
PV	5.75	-	May 18	Jonesboro, AR (i)
PV	5.60	-	May 8	Lincoln Nebraska Open, Lincoln, NE
PV	5.52	-	Apr 24	Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA - Invitational Events

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Derek Miles's Pole Vault personal best?

Derek Miles's Pole Vault personal best is 5.85, set on Feb 12, 2005 in Donetsk (UKR) (i), #90 on the all-time list.

Which events does Derek Miles compete in?

Derek Miles competes in the Pole Vault.

How did Derek Miles perform in 2012?

2012 season best: 5.60, set on Feb 2, 2012 in Vermillion, SD (USA) (i).

How many medals has Derek Miles won?

Derek Miles has won 1 Olympic Games medal.

Derek Miles

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

2012

2011

2010

Honours

Frequently asked questions