Stephanie Foreman: 'I just need to concentrate on me' (ArkSt

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Foreman: 'I just need to concentrate on me'
Kitti Jackson

Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Sports
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Media Credit: Abdullah Raslan
Stephanie Foreman is a sophomore pole vaulter.

The pole vaulting event is a long standing traditional track and field event and is described by student-athlete Stephanie Foreman as a "lot more technical than most other sports."

"You can't just use your strength and speed," Foreman said. "You have to have technique or you will only go so far."

Foreman, a sophomore from Hot Springs, started pole vaulting while in middle school.

"My coaches wanted us to try everything to see what we would be the best at and pole vaulting looked the most fun so I tried it first," Foreman said. "The next thing I know they were asking me to move up to the junior high meet for the next week."

Years later, Foreman is still lining up to make the approach toward the bar.

Despite being among the top vaulters, she said she still gets "nervous and shaky" during a competition.

"Even though I know that I can clear the next bar I still go crazy. Knowing that if you make one little mistake that can mess your entire jump really makes things hard. Especially if you are having to make it on your first attempt to win the competition," Foreman said.

Despite her feelings, Foreman is a force on the ASU track team. Her freshman year, she was the top pole vaulter for the Red Wolves.

A sweep of gold medals at Sun Belt Championships and regional qualifications rounded out the season, and she began this season with stunning vaults at the ASU Invitational and the SASF Invitational.

With results such as this, it was no wonder she was the Female Field Athlete of the Week by the Sun Belt Conference the week of January 20th.

"It felt amazing! It was a big confidence booster especially after only jumping 12 feet at SIU," Foreman said.

Although Foreman and the rest of the ASU track team has had success the past seasons, Foreman pointed out the lack of credit the team receives for their hard work.

"Our track team doesn't get a lot of credit for what we do and sometimes it is frustrating because we are all working very hard out there and we get no attention," Foreman said.

"We had quite a few people make it to regionals last year and no one knew about it. I feel like the football team gets all the attention. No matter how well we do."

Despite the lack of recognition on a campus level, Foreman said her goal for the rest of the season is to "just to do my thing."

"I can't worry about what other people are doing. I just need to concentrate on me. The biggest thing I want to do is make the automatic standard for nationals so I know for sure that I'm in," Foreman said.

"I believe that height is only 13'9'' so I know it's possible for me to do. I've made provisional height so there is a slight chance but I know I can do better so why not make it a for sure thing."
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