McKenzie Long, inspired by mother, earns spot on Olympic 200m team

EUGENE, Ore. — Over the past few months, McKenzie Long has experienced pure elation and complete heartbreak.

On Saturday, at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, she felt both.

Long, the NCAA champion in the 100 and 200 meters earlier this month, finished third in the 200 final here, qualifying for the Paris Olympics in her best event. She crossed the finish line in 21.91, behind winner Gabby Thomas (21.81) and Brittany Brown (21.90).

Long was a star at Ole Miss, having posted the world’s best time in the 200 this season – which she ran in Eugene during the NCAA championships on June 8 – before Thomas went even faster in the semifinals. Long also competed in the 100m here, but did not reach the final.

But she still had a chance to make her mother proud. She is running in memory of her mother, Tara Jones, who died suddenly of a heart attack at just 45 years old just before the season began.

At the NCAA Championships, an emotional Long told reporters that she talked to her mother every day and that when she was getting ready for her final race, “I told her, ‘Mom, this is my last race, encourage me to keep going’ – and she did.”

When she crossed the finish line Saturday, she was emotional again. She told reporters Friday after her first heat that she and her mother had dreamed together of attending the Olympics — with Long on the track and Jones in the stands cheering her on.

His story of perseverance traveled around the world this week and inspired other runners.

“We see her do incredible things on the track despite what she’s going through in her personal life,” Thomas said Friday after the semifinals. “It kind of motivates me to compete in my races and do well.”

They will now try to do well together, as American teammates.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McKenzie Long, third at Olympic track trials, earns 200th berth for Paris