Abby Steiner was on the biggest stage Thursday night, racing for a world championship. And the Dublin Coffman High School and University of Kentucky graduate showed up.
Competing in the final of the 200-meter dash at the World Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon Thursday night, Steiner finished fifth, finishing in 22.26 seconds.
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson finished in first place in 21.46 — a world championship record — while Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Frasier-Pryce finished second in 21.81 and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith finished third in 22.02.
On Tuesday, Steiner finished second in the semifinal heat in 22.15 behind Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who was one of five sprinters to finish in under 22 seconds.
Steiner recently signed with PUMA, going pro after earning four NCAA titles and becoming a 15-time All-American at Kentucky. She currently holds the American collegiate, Southeastern Conference and Kentucky record holder in the indoor 200-meters, along with holding collegiate, SEC and school records in the outdoor 200-meter dash and 300-meters.
WHAT. A. RACE.
JAMAICA GOES 1-2! Shericka Jackson takes the win in 21.45 (World Championship record and No. 2 in history) over Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s 21.81!
Dina Asher-Smith takes bronze in 22.02
Team USA’s Abby Steiner is 5th in 22.26.
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) July 22, 2022
“It’s a weight off my shoulders,” Steiner said of signing with PUMA. “It’s like everything you have worked for is coming to life. I don’t think it’s really sunk in just because it’s such a real blessing. I couldn’t be more excited about my choice, and I can’t wait for this next chapter with them.”
Before Kentucky, Steiner won four-straight state titles in the 200-meter dash at Coffman, along with three in the 100-meter dash in her final three years of high school.
Steiner was also a district Player of the Year on the soccer field, helping lead Coffman to a Division 1 state runner-up finish in 2014.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Abby Steiner finishes fifth in 200 meter at world championships