Newton’s Steinbach signs to compete in track at St. Ambrose

Keith Steinbach was called into the Newton High School main office one day during his junior year. It was a good thing he was.

Steinbach decided that day to go out for the NHS boys’ track team. He began his second track season with a fourth-place finish in the high jump at Thursday’s Little Hawkeye Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

On Friday, the Newton High senior signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field next year for St. Ambrose University in Davenport. Steinbach is following a family tradition as his father, and two older siblings have gone to St. Ambrose.

“I’m really comfortable at St. Ambrose. I went there on college visits with my older brother and older sister,” Steinbach said. “After competing in track last year, I found a good sport for me. I’m a decent jumper, but I know I need work on every aspect of my jumping and running.”

Steinbach has cleared 6-foot in high jump during a practice session. His top clearance in a meet is 5-8 last year. He went 5-6 at Thursday’s indoor meet.

“Keith is exactly the type of kid who fits into what we’re doing at St. Ambrose,” St. Ambrose head track coach Dan Tomlin said. “First, we know the Steinbach family well. Keith’s dad was on one of the earlier teams we had at St. Ambrose and his brother Nick ran and competed for us.”

Steinbach competed in the shuttle hurdle relay and the 4x800 relay in the Cardinals’ first track meet of the season.

Tomlin said Steinbach will be a high jumper for the Fighting Bees. He said Steinbach has athletic ability but it is untapped since Steinbach is just in his second year of track and field.

“With high school kids, we’re looking for athletes with good attitudes. We starting practicing on Sept. 1 and we’ll see through training where he will fit into events and where his skill sets are. We’re excited about where we can go with his potential,” Tomlin said.

Steinbach said he plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice. He is the son of Valerie and Keith Steinbach of Newton.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
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or jsheets@newtondailynews.com