She began to establish herself as a national level runner in 2009, taking the Leicestershire cross country title, placing second at the Sheffield Half Marathon and coming third at the Brooks Brighton 10K.

[2] Running at the 2010 European Cross Country Championships, she finished in 27th place and shared in the team silver medal with the British women.

She was ninth at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country, sixth at the Cinque Mulini, and won at the Hannut Lotto CrossCup.

[4] She had runner-up finishes at both the Great Ireland Run and London 10,000 (improving her best to 32:48 min), but managed only seventh at the 5000 metres British trials on the track.

[5] At the 2011 European Cross Country Championships, Steel was among the leaders and the midpoint of the race and was in second place by the final lap.

She was overtaken by Portugal's Ana Dulce Félix in the final stages, but managed to take third place for an individual bronze medal (her first international podium finish) and to lead the British women to their second ever European team title at the event.

[16] Returning to New England in summer 2014 she ran a PB for 10K, defeating Shalane Flanagan at the TD Beach to Beacon 10 km in 31:26.5.