MARCH 19, 2000

(INDIANAPOLIS)-- Tyra Holt (Bloomington, Ind.) of the Indiana Invaders will compete in the Nishida Cup to take place March 20 at Chukyo University in Toyota City, Nagoya, Japan. The Men and Women's Invitational AKA Nishida Cup hosts athletes from Japan, Korea, China, the United States, and Taiwan. Competition will take place at Chukyo University in Toyota City.

Tyra is coached by Dan Burton and Marshal Goss in Bloomington where she attends Indiana University School of Law. She has a current best of 3.85 meters (12' 7 1/2") in the pole vault. Tyra was the 1995 American Record holder in the Pole Vault while at Stanford University.

"This is a great opportunity to gain my first international experience.", said Holt. She added, " this competition regardless of the result will add to my motivation to return to the upper competition levels of vaulting".

"Tyra has made great strides in just a few months as she has returned to national class vault training." said Coach Dan Burton. He added "her 19th place finish at USA Indoor Nationals was not satisfying to her but it was a sign that she can regain a place of prominence in U.S. vaulting by the time of the Olympic Trials."

The competition's namesake, Mr. Nishida (deceased), was a two time Olympic Silver Medallist in the pole vault (1932 and 1936). The famed Mr. Nishida tied for the Silver Medal with a friend and teammate, Mr. Oe in 1936. They refused a jump off to determine their place and were assigned medals at the toss of a coin. When they returned back to Japan they had a jeweler cut each of their medals in half and fused as half a Silver and half Bronze Medal. Their story was recently commemorated on 1996 Olympic Budweiser Beer Cans.

For further information, please contact Greg Harger.

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