The impact of Binghamton University sports for many athletes goes well beyond their college years. Two BU alumni in particular, Rory Quiller and Scott Diamond, have been making stunning progress in their respective fields, hoping to make their dreams become reality.

Pole-vaulter Rory Quiller will stop at nothing to jump higher than he has ever before with Binghamton in his heart and the Olympics on the horizon. The 24-year-old Binghamton grad student reached many milestones in the last months by passing personal goals, breaking college records and becoming the first ever NCAA Division I champion from both Binghamton and the America East Conference. Now he continues to strive for his ultimate dream — to play in the 2012 London Games. Although he did not make it to Beijing, Quiller does not allow setbacks to stop him.

“Everything is looking and feeling real good right now,” he said. “I have a lot of things going for me.”

Since competing in the trials, Quiller has slightly changed his workout plan, focusing more on preseason heavy training. He is also gearing up for his last meet of the year in Pueblo, Colorado where he will have the opportunity to win a little prize money and compete among other solid pole vaulters.

Although he can’t partake in pole vaulting as a representative of Binghamton anymore, Quiller isn’t leaving the Bearcats anytime soon. He will be working alongside the Bearcats as a part-time assistant coach for track and field. Quiller will be able coach the team he once played for and at the same time do some training himself.

And what about the Olympics?

“The long term goal … is definitely the London games,” Quiller said. “It is where I am heading for. A short term goal will be to get into the World Championships next year, which is the [competition] I almost qualified for this year. I just want to do well in order to try to make it to the national team. The Olympics are so far off right now that all I can hope for is to become more consistent and jump a little higher.”

Bearcat fans will have the opportunity many times throughout the year to see Quiller in action.

“I will be going to a couple of meets with the team where I will be able to participate,” said Quiller. “Also, I will definitely be jumping at our home meet, which will be in early February.”

Here is something to think about: The Olympic finals for pole vaulting last Friday had Denys Yurchenko of the Ukraine jumping at about 18 feet 7 inches and winning the bronze medal — a mark only two inches higher than Quiller’s personal record of 18 feet 5 inches.

Meanwhile, former BU baseball player Scott Diamond is making great strides in Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. Since his debut in the Class A advanced league, he has proved himself to be a first-rate pitcher with an ERA of 3.00 and a total of 11 wins for the Pelicans.

“I was the first starter to move from Rome [Georgia],” said Diamond. “It was obviously a surprise, but I’m just happy to be here now. This team’s awesome and this city’s awesome.”

In his last ten games Diamond has had an ERA of 3.27, striking out 53 and giving up 20 runs. There have been a lot of changes going pro, but it has only added to his success.

“They got me working on different things,” said Diamond. “My fastball’s got a little movement [and] that has added to the success.”

“The transition from the metal to the wood bats” has also given him an advantage.

Playing with the Pelicans has not only helped him grow stronger as a pitcher, but it has given him the experience of a lifetime. At one point, Diamond had to give up his uniform number to major league pitcher Mike Hampton of the Atlanta Braves who was rehabbing with the team.

The Pelicans are first in their league ahead by two games, but recently they have hit a rough patch, currently riding on a four-game losing streak.

Diamond struggled in his most recent game against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Aug. 20. In his 14th start of the season, he gave up four runs and was relieved in the fourth inning with two outs, combining a total ERA of 9.82.

Where the road will lead Diamond is hard to say, but playing for Myrtle Beach has definitely boosted his experience and strength in baseball. The Birds play against the Wilmington Blue Rocks in game two of a four-game series on Monday, Aug. 25, at 7:05 p.m.