McKenzie Long third at Olympic track trials, earns 200m spot for Paris

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

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

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

Long was an Ole Miss star who ran the world’s fastest 200 this season — which she ran with Eugene at the NCAA championships on June 8 — before Thomas went even faster in the semifinals. Long also competed in the 100 here but didn’t make the final.

But she still had the opportunity to make her mother proud. She runs in memory of her mother, Tara Jones, who died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 45, 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 prepared for her last race, “I told her, ‘Mom, it’s my last race, encourage me to continue” – and she did. »

When she crossed the finish line on 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 amazing things on the track despite what she’s going through in her personal life,” Thomas said Friday after the semifinals. “It makes me want to go racing and do well. »

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