Abby Steiner Goes Out In Style With 11.38/22.73 Double

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Abby Steiner saved her best for last.

Friday and Saturday at the Ohio State Track and Field Championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, the Dublin Coffman High senior won the Division 1 100- and 200-meter sprints in record-breaking fashion.

Steiner won her third straight 100 crown in 11.38 and broke the state record. But it was Saturday's 200 performance that was the capper. Steiner blew away the field to run 22.73, an Ohio record that made her the sixth-fastest sprinter in U.S. prep history.

"It was a really special day for me," Steiner said. "I had a lot of family in town, who I normally don't get to see, so I had a big support system there. On top of it being my last races and having all my family there and coaches and teammates, it all came together and I just wanted to make sure I left it all out on the track. It made that day special for all the people there supporting me, and myself."

Steiner's 200 win was her fourth in a row at the state meet, and she is only the 16th athlete in Ohio to win the same event four years in a row. She said the goal going into the meet was a sub-23 clocking.

"I did not think I would go 22.7," she said. "I was thinking more like 22.96 ... I did not expect that low under 23. That was a big surprise."

Steiner's 22.73 puts her in elite company. Only Allyson Felix, Marion Jones, Candace Hill, Kaylin Whitney and current Gainesville FL freshman Tamari Davis have run faster.

"I haven't been able to process it yet," Steiner said of her time and what it means. "It's hard to compare yourself with names that great, but I’m really excited for what the future is."

Steiner, a two-sport athlete, said the plan is to still play both soccer and run track for the University of Kentucky this fall. She said this was her final high school track meet, as she will be playing in a club soccer tournament the same weekend as New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Steiner, who suffered an ACL injury in the summer of 2016, said being able to end her high school career this way was extra meaningful.

"Definitely it's been up and down, but it's made me really grateful for the opportunity to run yesterday and to feel 100 percent healthy," she said.

Other highlights from the Division 1 state meet included:

Senior Matt Scrape of Pickerington Central led four guys under 9:10 in the 3,200. He won the event in 9:02.01. 

Alyssa Wolf of Brunswick won the 3,200 in 10:27.57.

Senior Dustin Horter of  Lakota East won the 1,600 in 4:06.96.

Wadsworth senior Nick Miller won the 800 in 1:51.89.

Olentangy senior Siobhan Szerencsits vaulted 13-3, just missing the state pole vault record of 13-6.25.

Senior Hope Purcell of Lancaster won the high jump (5-9) and long jump (19-5).

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