Abby Steiner wins 400m in season opener with 51.70

Abby Steiner, competing in her first full season as a professional athlete, and making her season debut, won the women’s 400m race at the 2023 Rod McCravy Memorial with a time of 51.70 seconds on Saturday, 14 Jan.

Steiner won heat one of the race after she got off to a fast start and built a healthy advantage over her challengers en route to securing a commanding victory.

The American sprint star was very impressive for the University of Kentucky last season in the women’s sprint and ended the 2022 season with a pair of gold medals as part of Team USA in the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays at the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. She was also a finalist in the women’s 200m at Oregon 2022.

On Saturday at the 2023 Rod McCravy Memorial, Karimah Davis came in second with a time of 53.30 seconds, and Bryannia Murphy from Ohio State placed third with a time of 53.95 seconds. Jessica Wright from Howard finished in fourth place with a time of 54.13 seconds.

Masai Russell Beats Devynne Charlton

In the women’s 60m hurdles, Masai Russell of Kentucky ran an impressive 7.88 seconds to delight the home fans — finishing first and beating out Olympian and World Indoor silver medalist Devynne Charlton from The Bahamas, who placed second with a time of 7.98 seconds. 

Marcia Sey from Ohio State rounded out the top three with a third-place finish after she stopped the clock at a time of 8.40 seconds.

The men’s and women’s 60m dashes were fast races, with Jordan Anthony of Kentucky and Nya Bussey from Ohio State coming out on top.

Anthony took the honors in the men’s race with a time of 6.57 seconds after running a time of 6.59 seconds in the heats.

Victor Smith from Alabama State placed second with a time of 6.71 seconds, and Langston Jackson from Kentucky came in third with a time of 6.77 seconds.

In the women’s contest, Bussey won with a time of 7.36secs and finished ahead of Victoria Perrow from Kentucky, who ran 7.37 secs, with Talayla Davis from Life coming in third with a time of 7.43 seconds. 

The highly competitive short sprint event also saw Leah Bertrand of Ohio State grabbing fourth in 7.47secs and her teammate Alyssa Marsh rounding out the top five with a time of 7.49.