Bob Richards’ 1956 Olympic record of back-to-back gold medals is safe for at least another four years. Tim Mack couldn’t pull off a return trip to the Olympics. The 35-year-old from Westlake finished sixth in men’s pole vault at Sunday’s Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Mack tied Jeremy Scott and Paul Gensic.
The defending Olympic gold medalist simply didn’t have his best day. The Olympic Trials record-holder (19-4¼), Mack missed three attempts at
18-4½ and was eliminated from the competition.
Mack cleared 17-8½ on his first try, then made 18-0½ on his second attempt. It was the same height Mack cleared in Friday’s preliminaries.
An injury to his left calf in 2005 and a torn right labrum in 2006 have obviously played a part in Mack’s inconsistency the past four years.
Mack vaulted 19-2¾ at Chula Vista for his best performance last year. He did well at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on June 8, finishing third with a mark of 18-81/4.
Mack said a few days before the Trials that the tricky winds of the Pacific Northwest would likely impact his fate. Age was a motivating factor for the top two finishers.
Sacramento’s Derek Miles, 13 days younger than Mack, won the competition at 19-0¼. Miles is the oldest American to win the Trials. He was third at the 2004 Trials with the same height.
Miles had his share of adversity, too. He bounced back from a broken right tibia in 2006, which forced him to miss the first six months of the ’07 season. He finished seventh at Athens.
Jeff Hartwig, 40, a two-time Olympian in 1996 and 2000, was second (18-8¼) to earn his third Olympic ticket. The Arkansas native is believed to be the oldest man to qualify to Olympics in this event.
Brad Walker, 27, of South Dakota, the American record-holder and 2007 World champ, struggled but managed to make the team with his third-place finish (18-6½).

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