The Gatorade State Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.

For the complete list of Gatorade State Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year winners, click here.

THE WINNER: Abby Steiner

THE BASICS

School: Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio)
Grade: Sophomore
Height: 5-foot-7

Athletic achievement: The sprinter won a pair of individual state championships this spring and anchored the winning 4×200-meter relay quartet, leading the Shamrocks to a third-place finish as a team at the Division I state meet. Steiner took first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.87 seconds as well as the 200-meter dash, breaking the tape in 23.92. A First Team All-State selection in both track & field and soccer, she was unbeaten against Ohio competition this season and her winning time of 23.63 in the 200 at the Dublin Coffman-Hilliard Davidson Invitational ranked as the nation’s No. 24 performance among prep competitors in 2016 at the time of her selection.

Academic excellence: Steiner has maintained a 3.92 GPA.

Exemplary character: She has volunteered locally on behalf of multiple fundraisers to benefit cancer research. She has also donated her time as both a youth soccer and track & field coach.

THE PRAISE

“Abby Steiner is the fastest female high schooler in the state of Ohio,” said James Dingus, head coach at Oletangy Liberty High. “Since losing the 100-meter dash as a freshman, she has never lost a race in the state since that time. From an athletic standpoint, she is something very special.”

THE FUTURE: Steiner has verbally committed to a dual track & field and soccer scholarship at the University of Kentucky beginning in the fall of 2018.