BBN

Speedy Steiner #BBN by Larry Vaught | photos courtesy UK Athletics

Abby Steiner thought she was making the right career choice when she decided to give up soccer and concentrate on track after competing in both sports her freshman year at Kentucky. Her soccer skills initially got her to Kentucky, but her speed on the track proved to be something special. "Everything happens for a reason, and there is a plan for everything in your life. I am definitely happy with my decision. I also knew at the time I gave up soccer where my heart really was. I was definitely something I was sure of when I did it, but it has worked out better than I ever imagined at that time," the UK senior said. The Dublin, Ohio, native has become one of the nation's best sprinters. She won the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Championships the last two years. She was timed in a meet record 22.16 seconds in this year's meet. At the SEC Championships, she ran 22.09 — the fastest collegiate time ever and the second-fastest ever by an American woman. Steiner also set school records in the 300- and 60-meter dashes during the indoor season. She was named the National Women's Track Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, as well as the Southeastern Conference Women's Runner of the Year.

Steiner admits she started to daydream about those kinds of numbers and championships three years ago. "I think once I really devoted myself to track, I hoped for some special results, but I really had no idea my speed on the soccer field would translate to what it is today," Steiner said. "Once I started going through training and doing full-time track, that's when I could see the bigger picture of what my times might look like." She hopes to add to that big picture at the SEC and NCAA Championships, especially after an Achilles injury derailed her 2021 spring season after her spectacular indoor season. She ran the fifth-fastest 100-meter dash in collegiate history (10.92 seconds) and the fastest 200-meter dash (22.38 seconds) with a headwind over 1.7 miles per hour in collegiate history during the Joe May Invitational at Louisiana State University in April. Even with the wind at 5.6 miles per hour, Steiner had the second-fastest outdoor 200 in UK history. "Last spring felt a little unfinished to me. I did not get a full outdoor season. I didn't get to end the year on my terms," Steiner said.

She had been dreaming of a possible spot on the US Olympic team last summer after her 2021 indoor performance, but her injury denied her that opportunity. However, she never looked back and worked to be as prepared as she could be for her senior season.

"Everything happens for a reason. This indoor season, it was a blessing to get another year of experience, and the trials you go through just make you want to be back so badly," Steiner said. She's also learned not to let her sport consume her physically or emotionally. She has learned it's important to step away from the track when she has a chance. "I try to hang out with friends, do some reading. Just do things to get my mind off races, so I am not thinking about track all the time," she said. "Even in the middle of the season, I allow myself a little mental break. Thankfully I have learned some pretty good coping mechanisms." What she won't do is slack off on her academic work. She is an academic All-American and was named the SEC Indoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year in February. She has a 3.845 grade-point average as a Kinesiology major with a psychology minor. "I definitely put in a lot of work for the grades I get. I do enjoy school and know the study habits and work habits I am forming now will only help when I go onto graduate school. I take great pride in getting those grades," Steiner said.

She's not ready to decide if she will pursue a professional track career or go to graduate school. She'll make that decision when the outdoor season ends.

"I am trying not to get too far ahead of myself and enjoy everything about my career now," Steiner said. •