Steiner Broke the American Record In The 300 In 35.54 Seconds Despite Some Flaws

By David Woods for DyeStat

John Nepolitan Photos | INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

NEW YORK – Irina Privalova’s world record has stood for 30 years . . . but maybe not past 2024.

It seems inevitable Abby Steiner will break that record in the indoor 300 meters. Consider that in a race she started poorly, fell behind, nearly lost and wasn’t altogether happy about, she was a tenth of a second away.

Indeed, Steiner mistakenly said afterward: “This definitely won’t be my last world record. It’ll be my last one this season, but not my last ever.”

At Saturday’s 115th Millrose Games, she surged late to win in 35.54 seconds. It was an American record, just off the 35.45 set by Russia’s Privalova in 1993 and tied by the Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 2018.

“Clean up my start a little bit, and I think it’s there,” Steiner said of the world record.

Previous American record was 35.71 by Quanera Hayes in 2017.

Steiner’s previous best, 35.80, was a collegiate record set Dec. 11, 2021, while at Kentucky. That prefaced a momentous 2022 season in which she won the Bowerman Award, set an American record in the indoor 200 and won two relay gold medals at the World Championships.

Surprisingly, Brittany Brown led Steiner through 100 meters (11.68 to 11.80) and 200 (22.82 to 23.06). Brown, who was in lane 4 and inside Steiner’s lane 5, finished second in 36.13.

It was an encouraging result for Brown, 27, a former Iowa sprinter who earned a silver medal in the 200 at the 2019 worlds. In 2022, Brown ran a 21.99 PB and was fifth at the USA Championships behind winner Steiner.

NBC analyst Sanya Richards-Ross said Steiner kept her composure.

“Which is the sign of a star,” Richards-Ross said.

Before that, Richards-Ross said she was surprised Steiner began so conservatively.

“I thought, ‘When is she going to turn it on? When is she going to wind it up?’ She has the strength and she has the speed. What is she waiting for?” Richards-Ross said.

Steiner asserted her goal was to break the American record, not the world record. One thing at a time, she said.

“It was definitely good having someone push me through that last 100,” she said. “I don’t like to lose.”

It was a doubly good day for the mini-training group of Christian Coleman and Steiner, who are coached by Kentucky’s Tim Hall. Coleman won the men’s 60 meters in a world-leading 6.47, an Armory record.

Contact David Woods at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.