Leading ahead of Sha’Carri Richardson, McKenzie Long reflects on 100m loss at US Olympic trials: ‘Caught sleeping in the blocks’

McKenzie Long gets emotional during 200m trials

In an interview with Citius Magazine shared on X, McKenzie Long talks about regrouping from the 100m and how it helped her succeed in the 200m. She was heard in the interview clip saying how the 200m was her strong point and how much she loved running it, “It’s less stressful. In the 100m there’s little to no space. I’ve been caught sleeping in the blocks. In the 200m there’s room to catch up. It’s my favourite event.” Citius Mag captioned it: “The current world leader and NCAA champion says the 200m is her fun event and she’s ready to DANCE 🕺.” The 100 meters was a turning point for Long, as she mentioned she was just taking the days one at a time instead of putting too much pressure on herself.

She had a slower start, as she admitted “sleeping on the blocks”, She was unable to recover during the race, which prevented her from qualifying for the Olympic team. Long finished third in the first round of the 100 meters with a time of 10.94 seconds. However, she placed 11th in the semifinals with a time of 11.15 seconds. Her opportunity to qualify came later in the 200 meters event.

At the U.S. Olympic Trials, McKenzie Long showed remarkable composure in the women’s 200m, posting an impressive time of 22.49 seconds (+0.8) to secure victory in the second heat. Her performance edged out Jayla Jamison, who finished in 22.89 seconds, and Elise Cooper, who crossed the line in 23.05 seconds. Notably, Long currently holds the world-leading time of 21.83 seconds in the 200m event. Meanwhile, Sha’Carri Richardson put in an impressive performance in the 200m heats, sprinting to victory in 21.99 seconds (+0.5). Her fast pace left Abby Steiner trailing with a time of 22.29 seconds, underscoring Richardson’s formidable nature in the event.

Prior to that, Richardson had qualified for the Olympics in the 100m event with a fast time of 10.71 seconds. She spoke to NBC about her 200m time, now the second fastest in the world, saying: “Every time I hit the track, it’s an opportunity for me to work on being the best I can be.” McKenzie Long and Sha’Carri Richardson are neck and neck, and it remains to be seen who will be selected for the US Olympic 200m team. It will be very interesting to see how the semi-finals and final of the event unfold.

McKenzie Long eyes future on elite stage

At the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, McKenzie Long ended up winning the 200m title with a record time of 21.83 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in college history, just 0.03 seconds shy of Abby Steiner’s 2022 record. In the 100m category, she had a best time of 10.82 seconds. Long also contributed to Ole Miss’ victory in the 4×100 relay. She told Citius Mag: “Last year I didn’t win anything, so I wanted to come this year and win everything. That was the main goal, that was the main aim. I knew I could do it.”

Even dad Michael Long was over the moon, “I have to look twice. I think: That’s my daughter! It’s completely astonishing.” Her NCAA performance clearly indicates she is ready for the Olympic team trials at Hayward Field. This year has been a rollercoaster ride for the sprinter, as she made a comeback after suffering a hip injury that kept her sidelined for 12 months. Additionally, she is mourning the loss of her mother, Tara Jones.

But she found solace in the sport and fought for it. She credits much of her success to coach Kevin Richardson and coach Amy Perry who guided her through tough times.“It’s really amazing what she’s managed to accomplish,” Coach Perry praised his return. Today, his coaches, his father and the international athletics community eagerly await Long’s debut on the Olympic team. Despite the setbacks, his goal remains fixed on representing his country on the world stage.