After tough times in Ethiopia, Steury emerging as distance running star
ANGOLA, Ind. (BVM) — Angola High School junior, Izaiah Steury, has quickly emerged as one of the top distance runners in not only Indiana, but the entire country. However, Izaiah has a past unlike many of his teammates and competitors, and how far he has come may have been unthinkable years ago.
Izaiah was born and raised in Ethiopia, where he took care of animals as the family’s shepherd at just 5 years old. Being a shepherd, he missed a lot of school when he was young, and struggled when he was able to attend. Izaiah lived in a mud hut and in conditions that were predictably poor.
At a young age, Izaiah’s mother would pass away. For a while after, he continued to live with his stepfather, who did not want him around. In fact, Izaiah suffered physical abuse from his stepfather, leading him to search for a new home.
From there, the now 18-year-old went to live with his aunt and uncle. This time, his uncle didn’t want to take care of him either, so Izaiah’s aunt contacted his sister to come get him. With his sister having multiple kids of her own, she was not able to take care of her brother as well.
He would go on to stay with some other family members, where Izaiah would again suffer physical abuse and leave. Remarkably, after all the bouncing around, Izaiah remembered the way back to his sister’s, who decided the best thing to do would be to put him in an orphanage.
While most kids may not want to live in an orphanage, Izaiah was excited for the opportunity. He stayed at his initial orphanage for about a year, and then moved into a different orphanage which gave him the chance to become adopted.
A couple years later in 2013, Izaiah came to America for the first time where he met an Indiana couple, Tammy and Leroy Steury. The couple was looking to adopt Izaiah, who they hosted for a four week “trial.” Unfortunately, he would have to go back to the orphanage after that. But it wouldn’t be long before he’d get the news that he had been adopted, officially becoming a part of the Steury family.
“Seven years ago, I never would have thought I would be an American citizen,” Izaiah said. “I didn’t even know America existed. It was an adjustment, but all through it I was just excited that I had a home and a family to be a part of. I can’t believe it’s already been seven years and I’m just so thankful to be able to meet them. Out of anywhere in the entire United States, I ended up in a little town called Angola, Ind., and it’s just been a really cool experience.”
Izaiah joined four other siblings when becoming part of the Steury family, who have supported him and helped him adjust to his new home. Tammy and Leroy also helped create a smooth transition for Izaiah, who can’t thank them enough for what they have done.
“Without my siblings, I wouldn’t be the same,” Izaiah said. “They’ve been really loving and that’s something I hadn’t had so it’s been awesome. And without my mom and dad, I don’t know where I would be, honestly. I’m just so thankful that they are able to take care of me and were willing to take in a new son.”
One thing Izaiah quickly learned about the Steurys is that they are a sports family. Izaiah played a little bit of soccer growing up in Ethiopia, but didn’t have much success playing the sport in the United States. From there, he tried other sports he had seen his siblings play, like baseball and basketball, but neither of those were for him either. It took Izaiah a while to find his niche, but since he did, his athletic career has taken off.
Izaiah first began competitive running in seventh grade. He often hated running during soccer, and saw it as more of a “punishment” than anything. But after a friend persuaded Izaiah to try out for cross country, he found the sport he truly loved.
“My friend really convinced me to try out for cross country so I tried it and I really loved it,” Izaiah said. “I couldn’t stop and when I was running it wasn’t a punishment. I was doing it for fun and I enjoyed it.”
With Izaiah hooked on his new sport, it didn’t take long for him to emerge as a star. The 18-year-old realized his potential very quickly, qualifying for the cross country state meet as a freshman. At the meet, Izaiah would go on to finish higher than any other competitor in his class. As a sophomore last year, Izaiah would improve his state finish from 38th the previous year, to seventh.
Izaiah also competes in track and field during the spring, but would have most of his sophomore season derailed due to COVID-19. However, the Angola junior used that time to get better. Izaiah would run 70 miles per week during the COVID-19 shutdown, increasingly improving his times as a faster runner.
That work has clearly paid off in his junior cross country season. Izaiah has not only improved yet again, but he is starting to make waves not only in the state of Indiana, but across the nation with some truly impressive numbers.
Earlier in the year, Izaiah won a mile-long race in Chicago with an impressive time of 4:14.72. He later recorded a time of 8:57.17 in a 3,200-meter race in Nashville, which ranked as the No. 5 time in the nation this season among non-senior high school runners.
Perhaps more impressive, Izaiah set a time of 14:51.1 in a 5,000-meter race at Marion, the third best time nationally this season among all high schoolers. Most recently, the running star set a course record at New Prairie with a 15:08.2 time.
Izaiah is excited about what he has accomplished so far as a junior, and hopes to keep improving his times as the season concludes.
“My junior season has been really amazing so far,” Izaiah explained. “It’s just crazy to think how far you can progress from freshman to junior year. The amount of mileage you put in shows what you really can do. I’m really proud of myself for having the No. 3 time at Marion and breaking the course record at New Prairie. I’m just excited to follow the footsteps of some really great people.”
As Izaiah finishes up his junior season, his main goal is to win a state championship. Although he knows there is a lot of strong competition he will face, the Angola junior believes he has a chance.
“My goal for this year is definitely to win a state title,” Izaiah said. “I want to push myself, be motivated and want it more than the guy next to me. I’m just blessed to be able to be out there and be one of the top guys in contention. If I win it would be amazing to see and I would be so thankful.”
The star runner hopes to compete for state titles in the spring track season as well. Next summer, he will look to compete in national competitions, and will head into his senior year aiming to improve on his times for a fourth straight year, while potentially going back-to-back at state.
Although individual accolades and accomplishments fuel the sport, the team aspect of running is something that Izaiah highly regards. The work his team at Angola has put in to be successful over the years — and specifically this fall — has made Izaiah proud.
“My teammates have been doing really amazing and I’m so happy for those guys,” Izaiah said. “The hardwork and dedication they put in this summer really makes me happy and that’s definitely one of my favorite aspects of cross country.”
Izaiah is quick to give credit to those around him for his success, whether it is his parents, siblings, or teammates. But one of the most influential people to his development has been coach Brad Peterson.
“Coach knows everything and is just a really good coach,” Izaiah said. “He can tell you what you need to do and without him I wouldn’t be this kind of athlete. He has given me plans and ways to accomplish these goals that I have had so far. He pushes me to be the best and he wants me to know I can do more than what I’ve given. He’s just a really good guy to be around and I’m thankful for him.”
There is no doubt Izaiah will continue his running career at the next level. Still just a junior, he is not yet sure where he might want to go. But no matter where he ends up, Izaiah hopes to win a national championship, break the 10K collegiate record, and be part of a bonded team.
Those might be lofty goals, but so is what else Izaiah has in mind for his future — competing in the Olympics.
“I definitely want to work myself up to the Olympic level,” Izaiah said. “To be an Olympic gold medalist would be an amazing feat and I would definitely love to see that happen. That’s a long way from today but I just have to keep working every single day knowing where I want to be. Becoming a top athlete like that would be incredible.”
For someone to come from such a tough situation growing up and thrive as an athlete years later is always a great story, and Izaiah’s is no different. However, he does still keep in touch with his Ethiopian roots, and in fact, went on a trip back to his home country with his dad a few years ago.
“I do stay connected,” Izaiah said about his family back home. “I went back to Ethiopia with my dad and it was different but exciting to see what my home life was like. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to go back and see some family again. It was just a cool experience that words can’t even express. I’m excited to go back and see them again and I want to tell them everything that has happened.”
How far Izaiah has come in just a few years is nothing short of remarkable. He’s appreciative of how much he’s progressed on his journey so far, but as anyone can see, his story is still unwritten.
“I’m really proud of myself,” Izaiah concluded. “My life has had a lot of ups and downs, but life isn’t easy. It’s a process that is going to give you opportunities. Seven years ago, I never thought I was going to become an athlete, but I’m thankful to be who I am and for what I went through. I’m super excited and really motivated to see what’s next for me.”
