PARIS - Derek Miles (Jonesboro, Ark.) and Tim Mack (Knoxville, Tenn.) will enter Thursday’s men’s pole vault final with the opportunity to win medals in world championship competition for the first time in their careers.

The 2003 USA Indoor champion and runner-up in June at the USA Outdoor Championships, Miles placed fifth at the 2003 World Indoor Championships and owns a career best clearance of 5.82 meters/19-1. A decathlete as a collegian at the University of South Dakota, Miles is trained by National Track and Field Hall of Famer Earl Bell.

Miles, who enjoys paragliding in his spare time, is looking to soar to a medal in Paris after a solid performance in Wednesday’s qualifying, where he cleared 5.70m/18-8.25. “I was slow to get going, but it all came together in the end,” he said. “I was a little tentative and a little cautious in the very beginning, but after I got on the right poles things fell into place. It felt good, and I feel I could’ve jumped much higher.”

Tim Mack is looking to add to his international reputation this week in Paris following his surprise gold medal winning performance at the 2001 Goodwill Games, where he cleared 5.80m/19-0.25. His success continued in 2002 with a win at the USA Indoor Championships (5.72m18-9.25) and a runner-up placing at USA Outdoors. He ended the 2002 season ranked #5 in the world (#2 U.S.) and earlier this year Mack placed third at the USA indoor and outdoor championships.

Mack’s confidence in Paris was boosted by his inconsistent performance in the qualifying round (5.70m/18-8.25), where he advanced to the final. “All day none of my jumps were the same and that’s why I feel so good about making it to the final,” said Mack. “I know what I have to do to adjust and it should be a lot better on Thursday. It’s pretty simple what I have to do. I have to give myself room to run because I’m running better than normal this time of year and I just have to adjust to it.”

Since the inaugural World Outdoor Championships in 1983, American men have won two medals, both bronze, in the pole vault: Dean Starkey in 1997 and Nick Hysong in 2001. Following their impressive qualifying performances on Tuesday, Miles and Mack will attempt to add to that medal total Thursday in Paris.