Posted: January 24, 2005

Athletics: Dragila, Saxer in Millrose women's PV spotlight

NEW YORK - The best of the past and present will meet one of the bright stars of the future in the Millrose Games' women's pole vault competition on Friday, February 4 in Madison Square garden. All-time great Stacy Dragila and high school phenom Mary Saxer are among the competitors in a strong women's vault field slated for competition.

The second event of USA Track & Field's 2005 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the 2005 Millrose Games will be televised on NBC from 2-3:30 p.m., Eastern Time on Saturday, February 5.

2000 Olympic champion Stacy Dragila returns to the venue that has brought her some of her biggest successes for the women's pole vault. She broke the world record at the 2001 Millrose Games with a clearance of 5.63m/15 feet, 2.25 inches; two years later, in 2003, she broke her own American record with a vault of 4.72m/15 feet, 5.75. Her current indoor AR stands at 4.81m/15-9.25.

The American indoor and outdoor record holder in the women's pole vault, Dragila has won eight national indoor and eight outdoor titles. She also won gold medals at the 1999 and 2001 World Outdoor Championships, and she was the gold medalist at the 1997 World Indoor Championships.

High school record holder makes Millrose debut

With her sudden rise to pole vaulting excellence, Mary Saxer of Lancaster High School in upstate New York will compete in her first major invitational meet as she begins learning the ropes of what it takes to vault on the next level.

After raising the national high school girl's indoor pole vault record three times already this year, Saxer did it twice more January 8 at Dartmouth College, becoming the first U.S. high school girl ever to clear 14 feet either indoors or outdoors.

Heading into Dartmouth, Saxer had already set national records of 4.10m/13-5.25, 4.11m/13-5.50 and 4.14m/13-7. She raised the record that day to 4.15m/13-7.25 before her barrier-breaking clearance on her second attempt at 4.27m/14-0. Not bad for a young woman who has been vaulting for little more than a year, and whose indoor practice facility in the Buffalo area often tops out at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

If that wasn't enough, during her record-setting performance in the pole vault at Dartmouth, Saxer also competed simultaneously in the long jump, where she was the runner-up with a best of 5.62m/18-5.25.

2001 World Indoor silver medalist and two-time Olympian Kellie Suttle also is in the Millrose field, along with 2002 NCAA Outdoor champion Tracy O'Hara, who finished tied for fifth at the 2004 Olympic Trials in Sacramento. Also look for up-and-comers April Steiner (ranked #8 in U.S. by Track & Field New in 2004) and 2004 USA Indoor third-place finisher Lindsay Taylor to challenge the favorites.

Hartwig, Harvey join men's pole vault field

The Fred Schmertz men's pole vault field for Millrose, which already boasted Olympic silver medalist and #2 world-ranked Toby Stevenson and 2003 Millrose champion/#4 world-ranked Derek Miles, has added even more depth and crowd appeal.

Jeff Hartwig, who owns the U.S. indoor and Millrose Games records in the pole vault, returns in 2005 to the place where he has found so much success. Hartwig's mark of 5.8m/19-3 at the 2002 Millrose Games broke his own meet record and still stands. He broke the American record three times that season, ending with his 6.02m/19-9. At age 37, Hartwig is still on top of his game, having won four major events in 2004 and finishing the year ranked fourth in the U.S.

Also joining the deep talent pool at Millrose is 2001 World Indoor Championships silver medalist Tye Harvey. Harvey was fourth at the 2004 Olympic Trials and finished the year ranked #6 in the U.S.

About the Visa Championship Series

The Visa Championship Series features over $1.5 million in prize and promotional dollars, including a $50,000 jackpot and prize package going to the Visa Champions. Visa Champions will be the top male and female performers of the Visa Championship series.

For more information on the 2005 Millrose Games and USATF's Indoor Visa Championship Series, visit .