Kentucky junior Abby Steiner, an eight-time All-American and the fastest indoor 200-meter runner in the world this year at 22.83 seconds, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss her impressive start to the season, including a personal-best 7.22 in the 60-meter dash and a 52-second split in the 4x400-meter relay, both achieved Jan. 22 at the Wooo Pig Classic at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. Steiner, the reigning Southeastern Conference indoor 200 champion, was also the fastest global performer in the event last year when she clocked 22.57 to capture the title Feb. 29 at Texas A&M. She revisits fall training and how significant it was to work with sprint coach Tim Hall and remain healthy during those months after joining the Wildcats late during her freshman year following the soccer season, and being sidelined as a sophomore from November to January with a stress reaction. Steiner examines the block work she has been doing to become a better starter in the 60-meter dash, along with being a more aggressive starter in the 200. She also analyzes her improvement in the 400 after achieving the fastest relay split of her career, and how much she is looking forward to having the opportunity to compete in the 300 at least once before she graduates. Steiner shares how necessary accountability and responsibility have been for the entire Kentucky program in order to remain safe and healthy, especially after learning coach Lonnie Greene had tested positive for COVID-19. She speaks about the depth in the women's 4x400, not only in the SEC but across the country, and the challenges Kentucky faces competing against Arkansas, Texas A&M and USC in order to win a national championship in March. Steiner reveals she has also added a psychology minor to her kinesiology major this year, and how she hopes it will benefit her with aspirations to become a physical therapist following graduation when it comes to rehabilitation for athletes.

DYESTAT DISCUSSIONS - EP65 - ABBY STEINER