NAMPA ? Tina Sutej is the rare athlete who is nearly impossible to root against.
That much was clear Saturday as hundreds of spectators ? including many of her competitors ? stood and clapped in unison as the Arkansas pole vault star attempted to break her own NCAA record.
?Tina is one of those girls you?d love to hate, but you can?t,? said Tara Diebold, Sutej?s friend and teammate. ?She?s so good, but she?s also such a sweetheart.?
Sutej narrowly missed the record, but still successfully defended her title with a jump of 14 feet, 7.25 inches. She set the record at 14-10.75 last month.
?I wanted (the record)really bad because this is my last indoor meet. But I?m not disappointed, because I won a national championship,?? Sutej said.
Sutej will look to add an Olympic medal this summer as a member of the Slovenian national team.
?Tina has wanted to be an Olympian ever since she picked up a pole,? Arkansas pole vault coach Bryan Compton said. ?She wanted to come here because she saw April?s success, and she?s worked hard. She?s carried the flag for the University of Arkansas.?
In a few months, Sutej will carry the white, blue and red emblem of her homeland. But even with London looming, Sutej is focused on finishing her college career during the outdoor season.
Diebold is happy to help spread the word in the meantime. ?I?m telling everybody I meet that Tina is going to the Olympics,? Diebold said. ?I?m just so happy and excited for her.?
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