Steiner isn't a native, but knows Burlington

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Drake-notebook-042708

Steiner isn't a native, but knows Burlington
Pole vault winner has heard plenty of stories.
By MATT LEVINS

mlevins@thehawkeye.com

DES MOINES -- April Steiner has never been to Burlington in her life, but she knows more about the town than some of the city's natives.

Steiner, the world leader in the women's pole vault, is the granddaughter of Maxine Steiner, who is close friends with former Burlington High School activities director Dick Wagner. So every time April talks to her grandmother, she hears all kinds of stories about Burlington.

"When my grandmother heard I was coming to the Drake Relays, she asked me if I was going through Burlington," said Steiner, a sixth- and seventh-grade physical education teacher in Springdale, Ark. "She said if I ever needed a place to stay, I could always stay with Dick Wagner."

Steiner was making just her second appearance at the Drake Relays Saturday afternoon. In front of yet another sellout crowd, Steiner made sure this performance would be far better than her last one at Drake Stadium.

"I came here when I was a junior in college. It was 35 degrees and sleeting," she said. "I didn't make any height."

This time around, Steiner came out the winner, clearing 14 feet, 2 inches. She barely missed on her second attempt at 14-9 despite a 25-mile-per-hour crosswind.

"It was tough, but It was good to have the crowd behind me on a couple of jumps and that helped,' Steiner said.

Steiner is using the Drake Relays as a tune-up for the Olympic Trials later this summer. She hopes to qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China in August.

"It's going to take 15 feet to make the team," Steiner said. "If you are consistently jumping at the marks you want, it's all just a matter of confidence going in."

[VaultLove]

Nice story but not the World Leader. Jenn took the lead