Abby Steiner races into 200-meter finals at World Track and Field Championships
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Abby Steiner is heading to the finals in the 200-meter dash at the World Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The Dublin Coffman High School and Kentucky graduate finished second in a Tuesday semifinal heat, finishing in 22.15, behind Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who won with a time of 21.82.
"The atmosphere was great, so it was a fun race," Steiner said in her media availability following the event.
Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson was the top qualifier, running her heat in 21.68.
Jackson, Steiner, Fraser-Pryce and five others will next compete in the 200-meter final on Thursday. It will air on USA Network.
"I don't want to put too much pressure on myself," Steiner said. "I think if it happens it's a bonus. It's been a long season. I think when you have a lane, anything can happen, so I'm definitely going to go in there ready to compete, ready to give it my best effort out there and leave it all on the track Thursday night."
Steiner won her initial heat in 22.26 for an automatic bid in Tuesday's semi.
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She is the American women's indoor record holder after winning the U.S. Outdoor Championship in 21.77 seconds but knows this is an even bigger stage.
"Just the nerves are a bit higher this meet, so just trying to control that, not letting it tire me out too much," Steiner said.
Finals bound 😎@its_tamara_ and @abbysteiner1 get it done in the 200m semifinals! Clark wins her heat in 21.95, beating reigning world champion Dina Asher-Smith, and Steiner clocks 22.15 to finish second in hers.
The finals go down Thursday evening.#WCHOregon22 pic.twitter.com/M2jv9CNSYZ— TrackTown USA (@TrackTownUSA) July 20, 2022
The 15-time All-American is 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. She signed with PUMA ahead of her appearance at the World Track & Field Championships after earning four NCAA titles with the Wildcats.
At Coffman, Steiner won four consecutive state outdoor titles in the 200 and state titles in the 100 in her final three seasons 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.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Abby Steiner competing in 200-meter finals at World Championships
