Hinsdale South’s Steinhaus clears many hurdles

Updated: April 26, 2011 9:11PM

At 5-foot-1, Rachel Steinhaus doesn’t look like a typical hurdler.

But the Hinsdale South sophomore manages to clear them anyway, showing a triumph of form over style. With a background in gymnastics and diving, Steinhaus also feels pretty comfortable in the air and serves as one of the Hornets’ pole vaulters.

It’s all part of a full load of year-round athletics for the Downers Grove resident. She also competes in wrestling as the second child in her sports-oriented family of five.

Steinhaus finished second in the 100-meter high hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles at the Oswego Invitational April 21. She concluded the indoor season with a runner-up finish in the West Suburban Gold meet March 19 at Willowbrook.

Downers South’s Rebecca Stearns defeated Steinhaus 9.37-9.78 for the indoor conference title in the 55 hurdles.

“I’m surprised, especially with my height,” Steinhaus said. “I started the hurdles in junior high at Cass (in Darien). Through the years, I’ve been starting to do better as I know how high to jump.”

Steinhaus’ career-best in the pole vault is 6-0 outdoor.

As long as she can remember, Steinhaus has always been involved in sports. She followed her brother, Louis, a 2010 Hinsdale South graduate, and now watches as her younger sister, Brooke, as she gets involved in basketball, a sport Rachel never played.

“When we started doing sports, it was T-ball,” Rachel said. “I was always watching my brother doing sports.”

Rachel said her parents, David and Maria, participated in track and field when they were younger. She picked up the pole vault as a sophomore upon the suggestion of a coach.

“It’s kind of the same thing as diving,” Steinhaus said. “You have to be crazy to do all those stunts.”

Hinsdale South competes in the Wheaton Warrenville South Invitational at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The Hornets host the West Suburban Gold outdoor meet at 5 p.m. May 6.

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