Guest of honor: Track star Abby Steiner enjoys memorable Columbus-area homecoming
Although she signed a pro contract with PUMA last July, record-setting sprinter Abby Steiner has not forgotten her Columbus-area roots.
In what she called a whirlwind time in her life, Steiner returned home from Lexington, Kentucky, this weekend to make some public appearances and spend time with family, friends and fans.
On Saturday, she visited Dublin Coffman, her high school alma mater, where a mural was unveiled of the 2018 graduate. She talked with supporters and signed autographs as nearly 200 people came out to see Steiner at the event, which was sponsored by PUMA.
“This is kind of surreal,” Steiner said. “I am amazed how many people came out to support me. This is a wonderful community in Dublin, and it’s just such a special community in track and field. It’s always very supportive. I got to talk to people who are older, graduated from Kentucky in 1970, and I got to talk to little girls who are in the class of 2031.
“It was really special seeing the range of ages that running can have an impact on. It’s really motivating knowing that I can have a whole community who’s cheering for me no matter what.”
Steiner, 23, kicked off her busy weekend Friday with an appearance at a Fleet Feet store in Lewis Center. She began Saturday by being the honorary starter for the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon.
Those in attendance at Coffman included girls track and field coach Greg King, who played a role in Steiner’s development at the high school level. She closed her prep career with nine outdoor state championships and seven indoor state titles.
“This is great,” King said. “It’s great for the school. She’s such a cool person on top of being a great athlete. For the track program, it puts us on the map. How many high school track programs get mentions on national sports broadcasts?”
Some were a little star-struck by Steiner, who earned gold medals for the United States in the 400-meter relay (41.14) and 1,600 relay (3:17.79) at last year's world championships.
“It’s so cool to meet her,” Coffman freshman Filippo Mazur said. “To know that a world champion is right there in front of me and went to my school. I know so many people who absolutely adore her. It’s a huge honor.”
Steiner attended Sells Middle School, where then-athletic director Jay Schwanke witnessed her introduction to the sport.
“I didn't see this coming,” he said. “She was a really accomplished soccer player and played basketball. Her eighth-grade year she went out for track and she was instantly one of our standout track athletes.”
Also in attendance at Coffman were Steiner’s parents, David and Mollie, and her sister, Riley.
“It’s phenomenal to see everybody come out and support her, but it also makes us very proud with what she’s accomplished and how she carries herself,” David said. “She’ll always be my little girl. No matter what happens in her career, you never lose that as a parent.”
Steiner leaves Monday for Doha, Qatar, to prepare for the season’s first race in the Wanda Diamond League on Thursday. She then will prepare for the USA Track & Field outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July.
A 2022 graduate of Kentucky, Steiner broke the collegiate record in the 200 at the NCAA outdoor championships last June, winning in 21.8. She then won the 200 (21.77) at the USA nationals two weeks later before finishing fifth in the 200 (22.26) and contributing to the two relay titles in the world championships. All of those events were held in Eugene.
“Making that world team last year gives me a lot of confidence to build on,” Steiner said. “I enjoy building season by season. I’m looking for ways to constantly make improvements, so it gives me a lot of confidence that I was able to do that, and I am one of the best in the country and I’m able to hang with those girls. I’m carrying that momentum into the season and looking to make another world team.”
As a senior at Coffman, Steiner captured her third consecutive outdoor state championship in the 100 and fourth title in the 200.
“(The mural) is really special because I think I’m one of, if not the first, professional woman athlete to come out of Coffman,” Steiner said. “It’s really important to have something that people can see when they’re coming into the stadium, especially for little girls. I started out when I was that big. It’s really special to be able to be that person and inspiration for other people finding their way along the journey.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dublin Coffman unveils mural honoring track star Abby Steiner
