Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Amber Steen - A champion’s

champion

Tony Altobelli

In the numbers-happy world of track and field, the career of Amber

Steen has many numeric highlights to choose from. For example:

Bazillion - The number of shoes worn out by Steen’s training and

competitions. Also, the number of victories posted by Steen during her

Sailors’ career.

5,600 - Yards Steen ran to win three additional Sea View League titles

May 4 at the league finals. She also ran a 400-meter leg of the Sailors’

third-place 1,600 relay.

1,600 - The event which Steen won the CIF Division II title last year.

489 - The approximate distance (in miles) from Steen’s current home to

her future home, the University of Arizona.

9 - The number of individual Sea View League track titles Steen has

won in her career.

4:47.61 - Steen’s personal-best time in the 1,600, which happens to be

the second fastest time in the country this year.

5 - Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week selections for Steen, including

this one.

5 - Orange County Invitational titles (four in the 1,600, one in the

3,200).

2 - CIF Southern Section Division II cross country titles won by

Steen.

2 - Sea View League cross country titles.

2 - Different hairstyles.

1 - Master’s Meet title (3,200 in 1999).

But the number that’s the most important to Steen at this particular

juncture is “zero” which equals the number of state and/or national

individual titles.

Such lofty expectations are too much to throw on any high school

athlete, but for Steen, that’s just about the only challenge she’s got

left.

“I’m really going to shoot for a state title in the 1,600 then after that, go to North Carolina for the nationals and win there, too,” Steen

said. “I’m more of a speed runner than a long-distance runner, so the

1,600 suits me the best.”

Whether Steen wins a state title or not, Newport Coach Eric Tweit

always knows what he’s going to get out of her and that’s 100% every

time.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she won state this year,” Tweit said. “But

if she didn’t, it won’t be from a lack of effort or preparation.

Someone’s just going to have to be better than her that particular day.”

On the way to those lofty goals, Steen is having a blast ripping

through the competition in the Sea View League, where she won individual

titles Nos. 7-8-9 last week.

“Amber has had such a great career,” Tweit said. “To see her grow from

a freshman to the person she is today is great to see. She’s always been

confident, but now with her knowledge of the sport and how she’s matured

overall, she’s got the entire package now.”

Soon, Steen will be taking her complete package to the University of

Arizona, another opportunity to stretch her limits.

“It’s been a blast at Newport, but I’m really looking forward to

competing at the next level,” Steen said, referring to her spot on the

Wildcats’ cross country and track squads next season. “My advice to any

younger runners is to have as much fun as you can while you’re running

here at Newport.”

Steen’s future looks bright at the U of A, thanks in part to her

never-ending supply of work ethic and goal management.

“In cross country, I just want to do the best I can, because I’m not

too good in that,” the two-time Division II champ said. “But in the

1,500, I’d like to shoot for a NCAA title. All I’ve got to so is shave

off about nine seconds to qualify. I can do that.”

Talk about lofty goals, Steen is even looking beyond her Wildcats

career. “I’ve got my sights set for the Olympic Trials in 2004,” Steen

said. “And if I don’t make the team in ‘04, then I’m going to shoot for

‘08. The women’s body doesn’t fully develop until the ages of 28-32

anyway, so I’ve got plenty of time.”

Will the ridiculously warm weather affect Steen’s running? “I’ll take

warm over cold any day,” she said. “I like to run early in the mornings

anyway, so it’ll be nice to get up and have it already in the upper 80s

or something like that.”

When not on the track or in her three classes Steen can be found

hustling people in cribbage or backgammon. “Backgammon is easier because

you don’t have to worry about all those 15-twos and 15-fours and stuff,”

Steen said.