Editor’s note: This story on Sydney Steely is Part 4 of a four-part series on Mississippi State track and field athletes competing in NCAA outdoor championships. Part 3 was published in Tuesday’s paper.
STARKVILLE — At NCAA East prelims in Bloomington, Indiana, Sydney Steely gave herself the most important gift she could.
Peace of mind.
During the 2021 Southeastern Conference championships, Steely didn’t place high enough in her preliminary heat to automatically qualify for the final of the women’s 800 meters. She still made it, but she received a “little q” — qualifying on time rather than her spot in the heat. Steely sat on the edge of her seat while the other heats played out, hoping.
“It worked out, but it was nerve-racking having to wait and find out,” Steely said.
More than a year later, Steely made sure she wouldn’t have to do so again.
On May 26, she finished second in her first-round heat of the 800, then repeated the feat in the quarterfinals two days later to earn two “big Q’s” and clinch a spot in NCAA championships.
“This year, the turn side of that was just knowing as soon as I crossed the line that I’d done what I needed to do, and it was a good feeling,” Steely said.
The Mississippi State redshirt junior will run in the semifinals of the event at 9:14 p.m. Thursday in Eugene, Oregon. The final will be contested at 5:44 p.m. Saturday.
Steely, who hails from Hoover, Alabama, will make her first trip to nationals. She is one of four Bulldogs competing in Eugene, joining Navasky Anderson (men’s 800), Cameron Crump (men’s long jump) and DJ Jónsson (men’s javelin).
“It’s the biggest stage that I’ve gotten to race at while I’m here, so it’s going to be an honor,” Steely said. “I’m excited to go with my other three teammates.”
Steely is on the Mississippi State cross country team as well as the track and field roster, keeping her busy during cross country season in the fall, indoor track season in the winter and outdoor track season in the spring.
She doesn’t get the summer off, either.
“We definitely don’t have an offseason,” Steely said. “The summer is spent training just as hard as I’m training now.
“I actually really enjoy it. There’s a lot of ebbs and flows throughout the season because cross country is somewhat different than what I’m doing on the track now. But I enjoy it all.”
Steely made the switch to the 800 after competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and found the new event “totally different.” Steely finished 19th in the steeplechase at 2021 East prelims, missing a trip to Eugene by seven spots.
Instead of the long-distance, obstacle-laden race she’s used to, Steely is now running barely a quarter of the distance. She now trains with head coach Chris Woods, who also leads the cross country team, rather than being the only MSU athlete under a former coach no longer on staff.
“It’s been quite the change to switch over to Coach Woods’ group and focus mainly on the 800, but I’ve enjoyed it,” Steely said. “I think that it fits me, and I’ve enjoyed the training group, which I think has a lot to do with the success that we’re having.”
Steely, a varsity cross country runner for Hoover High School ever since seventh grade, said she couldn’t pass up an opportunity to run in the SEC.
Add in a distance of a little more than two hours from her hometown, and MSU was a match.
“I think it just felt like home,” Steely said. “I wanted to be far from Birmingham-home, but not too far.”
She and Hoover classmate Ava Weems joined forces in Starkville and have both been on the Bulldogs’ track and cross country rosters ever since the fall 2018 semesters. Weems typically runs longer distances than Steely, competing in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 as well as the mile.
“We roomed together our freshman year in the dorms, and we lived together up until last week,” Steely said. “We’ve been together all four years, and it’s been really cool to see each other grow into our own people.
“We got to do it together but definitely on our own.”
Weems won’t join Steely in Eugene, but she’ll be cheering on her teammate’s first-ever trip to nationals.
And even if she has to sweat it out again, Steely said she’d be “thrilled” to find success at the highest echelon of college track.
“It would be just amazing,” Steely said. “I think that that’s everybody’s goal at this level, and I know that I’ve been putting in the work to do it.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
