LEXINGTON – Of course there were tears.
Breaking a collegiate record while winning a national championship over a rival would have been enough cause for celebration on its own as Abby Steiner crossed the finish line first in the 200-meter dash at the NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon Saturday, but the moment represented more than the cap to one historic season for the Kentucky track star.
Two years ago, Steiner saw her sophomore season ended early by the COVID-19 pandemic. A year later, Steiner looked poised to compete for a national title in the 200-meters then push to qualify for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics after breaking the collegiate record in the indoor event.