Abby Steiner, second from right, has had a record-setting season for Kentucky and coach Lonnie Greene believes she is a future world champion. (Photo by UK Athletics)
Lonnie Greene thinks his wife has the best description of Kentucky All-American senior sprinter Abby Steiner.
“Superstar. That is my wife’s words,” said Greene, UK’s head track coach. “Abby understands the gift God has blessed her with. He has honored all her diligence. Even in times when she wasn’t at 100 percent she was still in my mind head over heels better than any athlete in the country.”
Steiner has been a superstar. She has won the 200-meter dash at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship three straight years and ran the second fastest 200 in world history (22.09 seconds) at this year’s SEC indoor meet. She ran the third fastest outdoor (22.05 seconds) in collegiate history in late April and ran the second fastest 100-meter dash in the world earlier this season.
She was second in both the 200 and the 100 at the SEC Outdoor Championship in her last meet. She ran the 200 in 22.07 and 100 in 11.02 but barely lost each race to LSU’s Favour Ofili. However, Steiner did combine with teammates Karimah Davis, Dajour Miles and Alexis Holmes to finish the 4×400 relay in 3:21.93, the fastest time in collegiate history.
“I told these ladies before this relay that I was gonna run my heart out for them,” Steiner, who ran a 48.772 third leg to put the UK in front, said. “We really wanted this win. Collegiate record is just a bonus on top of that.”
Greene made it clear before the SEC meet that the ultimate goal for Steiner was winning the national championship next month.
“She does not back down. She will give you whatever is in the tank and that’s all a coach can ask,” Greene said. “She represents the (Kentucky) brand well on and off the track. She is an excellent student (3.845 grade point average).
“The sky’s the limit for where she is getting ready to go. At the end of the day if done well, if done right, her name is going to be up in lights. I might be at the World Championships crying like a big sissy when she medals.”
Greene says there’s no reason for him not to think she will be successful at the World Championships.
“Why not believe she is the best in the world?” Green said.
Steiner smiles when she hears Green’s praise and isn’t worried about his words motivating competitors even more to beat her and says there is no pressure on her.
“I just have a lot of people supporting me, believing in me and I’m excited to do the best that I can and just have fun,” she said.
Steiner won four straight Ohio high school outdoor titles in the 200 and state titles in the 100 her final three years. She tore her right ACL at a soccer camp before her high school junior season and then had a left Achilles tendon injury last spring derail her outdoor season.
Greene said the best decision last year was to shut Steiner down after she felt discomfort early in the outdoor season. She tried to compete at the NCAA outdoor meet but it was obvious she was not healthy.
“We wanted to live to see another day,” Greene said. “(Assistant) Coach (Tim) Hall shut her down and she was hotter (mad) than fish grease. Now she is the American record holder. I am biased. I am a Steiner fan. I believe she can break world records.
“That’s no pressure on the baby girl. That’s just me. When she wins, I am her biggest fan.”
Greene says his current star sprinter was not easy to “pull the reins back” on when she was injured. He knows she has a “gift” only special athletes have and they want to compete.
“We had to shut her down. She had the type of challenge (injury) that needed rest and that’s exactly what we did. We did all in our power to get medical attention but she needed rest. We had to do what was best for her,” the UK coach said.
“Some can run, some have got talent and some have a gift. God gives certain people a blessing. She has the gift and works the gift. A lot of people want success but don’t put the work in. She works the gift and God honors that.”
Steiner is also gifted academically. She recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in human health sciences/kinesiology. Steiner was recently named the Southeastern Conference Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year by a vote of the league head coaches. Steiner also won the award for the indoor track & field season.
