Steiner was sick at Tyson

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/ ... btrack.txt

Ex-Lady'Back Vaulter Makes Strong Attempt
STEINER STILL ENJOYS SUCCESSFUL NIGHT IN HER EVENT
This article was published on Friday, February 9, 2007 11:21 PM CST in Razorback Central
By Jerry L. Reed
The Morning News

FAYETTEVILLE --April Steiner had every right to bellyache about finishing fourth in the women's pole vault invitational at the Tyson Invitational in the Randal Tyson Track Center on Friday night.

She admitted she was suffering from an upset stomach.

"I think I ate something funny at lunch," Steiner said. "Really, I'm not trying to make excuses."

So, what did she eat?

"I'm not going to say," she said with a laugh. "No comment."

Steiner said it clearly wasn't anything as bad as eating maggot mashed potatoes, worm green beans, cockroaches or beetles she was asked to gobble when she appeared on the popular TV series "Fear Factor" in 2004.


"Oh no, nothing like that," Steiner said.

She earned $50,000 for her appearance on "Fear Factor," but she didn't have any left in the bank.

"No, I'm a girl," she said. "Actually, I spent the last of it two months ago."

Steiner, a former Arkansas vaulter who teaches physical education at Hellstern Middle School in Springdale, had several of her students in the stands Friday night.

"It was awesome," she said. "I just wish I could have done better for them tonight.

"I struggled quite a bit, I'm not feeling so good, not to make excuses. I really don't know what happened.

"I wish I did feel good, I think I'd be jumping up with her at 15-5," Steiner said, cutting her eyes at adidas teammate eventual winner Jennifer Stuczynski, who had the sixth best pole in the world Friday night. "I wish I could have done better with all the fans cheering for me."

Also competing Friday in the pole vault was Lady'Backs senior vaulter Jodi Unger, who finished last. She said it was exciting competing with Steiner.

"Oh, it was fun," Unger said. "We are training partners, so I'm used to being with her in practice. It was good with having someone familiar competing."

Steiner missed on all three attempts at 15 feet, 1 3/4 inches after clearing 14-10 on her third attempt.

"That would have been my P.R. (personal record)," Steiner said. "I finally was getting into my rhythm. I barely missed it.

"Barely, I thought I had it."

"For me, personally, it stinks. I train here everyday. This is my runaway. I guess I didn't prepare properly."

Or it really could have been something she ate.