McKenzie Long says her mother’s spirit carried her through the race for the Olympic team
McKenzie Long’s mother, Tara Jones, died unexpectedly of a heart attack just before the start of the season at the age of 45. Long said she heard her mother’s voice on the track.
The U.S. Olympic track and field trials conclude Sunday after ten exciting days of competition in Eugene, Oregon. The day is packed with eleven finals, culminating in the men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles.
A trio of reigning Olympic medalists are leading the hurdles today: Sydney McLaughlin-Levronewho won gold in Tokyo, was to lead a strong field in the women’s 400-metre hurdles at the end of the heats; and the silver medalists Keni Harrison (Women’s 100 m hurdles) and Ray Benjamin (Men’s 400 m hurdles).
When the day is over, the field for the individual events at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will be set.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ live updates from the field at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Qualifiers.
What time do the US track and field finals start on Sunday?
Sunday’s first final, the men’s hammer throw, begins at 5:50 p.m. ET. The final event is the women’s 400-meter hurdles, scheduled for 8:29 p.m. ET.
How to watch the US Olympic track and field qualifiers
All events will be streamed live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC and NBC Sports apps. NBC will broadcast the finals on Sunday from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
REGARD: US Track & Field 2024 Olympic Qualifiers FREE on Fubo
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her dominance in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, setting (another) world record in the U.S. Olympic track and field qualifying final at Hayward Field on Sunday. McLaughlin-Levrone crossed the finish line in 50.65 seconds, then covered her mouth in shock when she saw her time.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s previous world record, also set at Hayward Field, was 50.68, which she ran at the 2022 World Championships.
Anna Cockrell (52.64) finished second and Jasmine Jones (52.77) third and will compete alongside McLaughlin-Levrone in Paris. −Lindsay Quick
Hoppel booked his ticket to Paris in impressive fashion. Hoppel led both laps of the 800 m and crossed the finish line with a competition record and a personal best time of 1:42.77.
Hoppel’s training partner Hobbs Kessler came in second with a personal best time of 1:43.64.
Brandon Miller secured the third and final qualifying spot with a time of 1:43.97. −Tyler Dragon
Fisher and Nur ran stride for stride in the final lap of the men’s 5000m, but Fisher took the win with a final push, setting a meet record of 13 minutes, 08.85 seconds.
Nur was directly behind in second place and crossed the finish line with a time of 13:09.01.
Parker Wolfe finished third with a personal best time of 13:10.75.
Fisher also won the 10,000 m and qualified for the Olympic Games on June 21. −Tyler Dragon
Haugh won the men’s hammer throw with a season-best throw of 260 feet, 10 inches. Rudy Winkler finished second with a throw of 258 feet, 10 inches.
Haugh and Winkler were the only two throwers in the competition who met the Olympic standard.
Shelby McEwen won the competition with a jump of 2.21 m. McEwen was the only jumper in the competition who met the Olympic standard.
Could Quincy Wilson compete in the Olympics?
Quincy Wilson, the 16-year-old sprinting sensation who wowed the crowd at Hayward Field by reaching the final of the men’s 400m, has a good chance of heading to Paris to qualify for the men’s 4x400m relay.
Hall finished sixth in the 400m final with a time of 44.94. He has the 24th fastest 400m time in the world this year, having run a time of 44.59 in the semifinals of the trials on June 23. After the final, he said he would not stop training until he knew for sure his season was over, adding that he was not sure he could expect to make the relay group because these decisions are “so political.”
Relay teams will be selected by relay coaches Mike Marsh and Mechelle Freeman. They will announce the team no later than July 8, but athletes and their individual coaches will be notified earlier – possibly as early as late Sunday evening – so the athletes can begin training together. −Lindsay Quick
McLaughlin-Levrone ran the fastest time in the semifinals of the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday and easily reached the final on Sunday with a time of 52.48 seconds.
Every time McLaughlin-Levrone steps onto the track there is a chance she will set a world record, and some expect that to happen on Sunday. She is the reigning gold medalist and a clear favorite to repeat her victory in Paris. McLaughlin-Levrone also took gold in the 4×400 meters in Tokyo and is expected to compete again in this relay.
If you missed any of the events this week or last week, we have a results list of the top three finishers in each event who automatically qualified for the Paris Olympics.
Christina Clemons and Keni Harrison secured the two automatic qualifying spots in the first heat of the women’s 100 meter hurdles semifinals on Saturday. Clemons and Harrison both ran a time of 12.52. However, after the review, Clemons was declared the winner by a narrow margin.
Ironically, Alaysha Johnson and Tonea Marshall crossed the finish line with the exact same time of 12.36 to lead the second semifinal heat. Johnson was declared the winner after review.
Masai Russell also achieved a time of 12.36 and won the third and final semi-final.
Johnson, Marshall and Russell have the best qualifying times ahead of Sunday’s final at 8 p.m. ET.
Schedule of Olympic qualifying matches today
17:50 – M Hammer final
18:15 – Women’s Pole Vault Final
18:30 – M High Jump Final
18:55 – M Triple Jump Final
19:10 – Javelin Throw Final W
19:30 – M 5,000m final
19:51 – M 800m final
8pm – Final 100m Hurdles Women
20:09 – Women’s 1,500m final
20:20 – M 400m hurdles final
20:29 – Final 400 m hurdles women
