EUGENE, Ore. – A former High Point University men's pole vaulter was crowned the USA Champion in the men's pole vault on Saturday afternoon at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Miller made history by becoming the first-ever HPU track and field athlete to win the event.
 
"Austin Miller winning the US championships is something that's just surreal and I'm elated for him," Pole Vault Coach Scott Houston stated. "He's done an amazing job staying consistent, staying persistent and training like crazy and he's never left High Point University. He started there as a freshman and he's been there for 14 or 15 years now, and he's done a phenomenal job just listening, learning and trying to be a student of sport, really honing in on his mistakes to get better every week to be competitive in championship level meets."
 
Miller cleared his first three bars with ease, coming in at 5.52m and moving up at 10-centimeter intervals with each clear. At 5.82m he came up short on his first attempt but regrouped and sailed over the bar.
 
Using a smart strategy, Miller passed at the 5.87m height and used his three attempts at 5.92m. After missing on his first two attempts, he soared over the bar on his third attempt to take the USA Champion title and record a new personal best.
 
"Austin has been knocking on the door for the past two to three years and just hasn't seen the success of making that US championship team," Houston commented, "so to finally represent our country and High Point University along the way is just unreal. He's made his first world championship team and he's going to represent us well in Tokyo and hopefully compete very highly for a medal.
 
"I can only say great things for Austin, you know, we've been working together for so long and that's helped us make this crucial pivotal moment become such a happy moment for him and for me. It means a lot to put in all the hard work, time and sacrifice because there's so much sacrifice that goes into becoming a high caliber athlete. He ranked 10th in the world last year, he's ranked top five in the world this year and he deserves all of it. He's motivated, dedicated and determined. He stays persistent and consistent at doing what he needs to do to compete at the highest level."
 
With his win at the USA Championships, Miller will spend the next few months training to compete at the World Championships in Tokyo which will take place from September 13 through the 21.
 
"It's a testament to the High Point University track and field programs which started under Mike Esposito," Houston added, "and he's done such a great job fostering the environment to create success and Austin was one of the younger athletes to be a part of that that success. Austin was there with me when I won my first US Championships and so he got to watch me do it and then for him to come here and do it while I'm coaching him is just awesome, it's unbelievable and I'm so happy for him."