Miller’s time finally arrives in Reno, secures qualifying mark for USATF Indoor Championships

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

RENO, Nev. -- Austin Miller saved one of the best performances for last at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit, clearing the highest bar of his career Saturday at one of the sport’s most prestigious events.

Miller, a High Point graduate who never advanced to an NCAA Division 1 indoor or outdoor final during his collegiate career, secured a qualifying mark for the USATF Indoor Championships in March after a lifetime-best clearance of 18 feet, 1 inch (5.51m) on his third attempt to win the men’s open competition at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.

“Relief is honestly the best term I can use right now. It’s finally off my chest, I can finally say I’m over 18 (feet),” said Miller, who had cleared 17-9 (5.41m) in April.

“It’s very, I want to say surreal, but I can’t because I know this is going to sound weird, but I knew it was going to happen eventually. It was just a matter of time.”

Miller was a 17-2.5 (5.25m) vaulter in college, but remained in contact with former Indiana University standout in Scott Houston following graduation to join his training group and be coached by the current High Point assistant. Houston cleared a personal-best 18-7.75 (5.68m) to place third Friday in the men’s global elite competition.

“As soon as he cleared his PR, I went absolutely bananas,” Miller said. “I was getting some very funny looks from the crowd because I was like, ‘That’s my coach out there.’ I was losing it.”

Houston elevated to No. 5 in the world this year, improving on his 18-4.50 (5.60m) indoor mark that he had cleared three times previously.

“When the pressure is on, you’ve got to perform and so I came back and lit up 5.68m with an OK jump. I got a little bar love on there, for sure, but I put myself back in the running and knew I could kind of settle in and get some better jumps in at the next heights,” said Houston, whose cleared an outdoor PR of 18-11.75 (5.78m) in July.

“It’s a good start. It’s definitely not a bad start, but only time will tell. It’s put me back on the poles that I was jumping on the very end of outdoor last year coming back from a foot injury. I can only hope starting out with a 5.68m, an indoor best, and taking some shots at 19 feet, that it will lead into some consistent 19-foot clearances this year.”

Appalachian State graduate Taylor Drummonds prevailed in the women’s open competition with a 12-5.50 (3.80m) clearance, winning a tiebreaker against former Cal State Northridge vaulter Alyana Nicolas and Khyati Vakharia of Bangalore based on fewer misses.