HPU Track’s Austin Miller Places 26th at NCAA Preliminary

Pole Vault Result

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High Point University men’s track & field junior pole vaulter Austin Miller cleared five meters in a successful first NCAA Preliminary appearance Friday inside Hodges Stadium.

The Herndon, Va., native converted the 5.00m (16-4.75) height on his second attempt to earn a 26th place finish, a solid 15 spots ahead of his No. 41 seed entering the event.

Miller’s day began with the 4.85m (15-11) bar, and after two unsuccessful attempts he cleared the height with ease on his third and final attempt. After his successful second vault at the five meter bar, Miller came extremely close on his second and third attempts at 5.15m (16-10.75) but just missed on both tries.

The trip to Jacksonville capped off an excellent junior campaign for Miller. He won nine pole vault titles in 2015, including the Big South indoor crown after posting a new indoor school record vault of 5.05m (16-6.75). Miller also broke his own HPU record during the outdoor season, posting a new VertKlasse meet record of 5.07m (16-7.5) to qualify for the NCAA Preliminary. He finished second at the Big South Outdoor Championship with a vault of 4.91m (16-1.25).