McKenzie Long, inspired by her mother, earns a place in 200 for Paris

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

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

Long, the NCAA champion in the 100 and 200 earlier this month, finished third in the 200 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). It was elation.

The heartbreak came when she remembered that her mother was not there to witness it.

Jones, a star at Ole Miss, is running in memory of his mother, Tara Jones, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack at just 45 years old just before the start of the season.

“To cross that line, to know that I’m now an Olympian, it’s so surreal,” Long said afterward, close to tears. “And I know my mom is smiling, I know she’s proud of me. That’s all I could ever want.”

At the NCAA championships, where she won the 100 and 200, an emotional Long told reporters that she talked to her mother every day and that when she prepared for her final race, “I I told her: “Mom, it’s my last race, encourage me” – and she did. »

She did the same thing on Saturday at the trials.

“I could hear his voice before I even got on the phone,” Long said. “I would just say to her, ‘Let’s do this, Mom,’ and I would say, ‘You have this little girl. »

“I could feel it in that moment and it got me through that race.”

Long 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. And even after not making the 100 final at the trials last week, she felt her mother’s encouragement.

“Of course, not making the final (100) was a shock to me, but I didn’t let that discourage me at all,” she said. “I knew the 200 was really where I would conquer.”

When asked what her mother would have said to motivate her before the race, Long laughed.

“She’d probably say, ‘You’re McKenzie Long, they should be afraid of you!’ » She would probably say, “You have this little girl!” »

Long said therapy has been key to overcoming grief while trying to dominate the track. Her therapist encouraged her to “not separate” her mother from anything. So Long didn’t do it.

She talks to Jones out loud every day. She listens to a workout playlist Jones created. Her lock screen is a photo of Jones. Every time Long reaches for her phone, she kisses him.

Long’s story went viral this week and inspired other runners.

“There’s something really special about her,” Thomas said. “I’m so touched by her season, how hard she works and what she’s overcome. I’m so proud of her.”

After crossing the finish line, Thomas told Long that she had a dream about her on Friday night. In the dream, Long was on the Olympic team with Thomas.

“I said to him, ‘You didn’t want to tell me that before we got here on this line?'” Long said with a laugh, adding that Thomas inspires him every day. “I tell him all the time, I want to be you. That’s my goal, I want to be like Gabby Thomas.”

Since Saturday, she has been like Thomas. Because now they’re both on Team USA.

Email Lindsay Schnell at [email protected] and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

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