Long finished third in the women’s 200-meter final with a time of 21.91 (+0.6) to secure the final ticket to Paris. It was the second-fastest wind-compliant 200-meter time of her career and the fastest time ever run by a third-place finisher at the Trials. Long is the first woman in Ole Miss history to qualify for the Olympics in a running event and joins Brittney Reese and Raven Saunders as the only women in the history of the track and field program to become an Olympian.
Gabby Thomas gives a lesson at her special event!
Win the #TrackFieldTrials24 200 m final in 21.81. pic.twitter.com/9mvNgvt5Ko
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024
For Long, this is not only the culmination of her career so far, but also of a 2024 season full of ups and downs. She entered the race as the NCAA favorite after finishing second outdoors in 2023. And then her mother died in the middle of the indoor season. And then she rocked the track, becoming the second fastest in college history in the 200 meters and the sixth woman in Division I history to win the 100, 200 and 4×100 meter relay at the NCAA outdoor championships. And all while her mother’s presence was at the forefront of her life.
“I was really grinning from ear to ear, honestly,” Long said. “I wanted to go into this race with complete confidence in what I’ve accomplished so far, and now to cross that finish line and know that I’m now an Olympian is so unreal. And I know my mom is beaming from ear to ear. I know she’s incredibly proud of me, and that’s all I could ever want from her.”
Despite being one of the fastest women in the world, Long faced a difficult task to make Team USA. She was sandwiched in lane 7 between U.S. 100-meter champion Sha’Carri Richardson and newly crowned world number one and 2021 Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas. But despite the long college season, Long used her signature second gear to keep up with the veterans, edging Richardson out of third place. Thomas took the U.S. title with a 21.81, while Brittany Brown took second with a 21.90.
“In the last 60 meters, I really tell myself: Don’t let your form drop,” Long said. “That’s literally the deciding factor as to whether you finish first, second or last. Don’t let your form drop, no matter what. Just cross the finish line as strong as you can, and that will get you through. It’s a full 200 meters.”
In the women’s shot put, reigning Olympic silver medalist Raven Saunders needed just one more throw to secure her spot on Team USA, but still decided to make a slight improvement in the final round. Saunders took the lead with her season’s best of 19.88m/65-02.75 in the first round, and was eventually overtaken by eventual champion and two-time reigning world champion Chase Jackson in the fourth round with 20.10m/65-11.50. This did not dampen Saunders’ Olympic dreams, however, as she held on to second place and even improved to 19.90m/65-03.50 in the sixth round.
This will be Saunders’ third Olympic appearance, having placed fifth in Rio in 2016 as a 20-year-old before winning a silver medal in Tokyo in 2021. Saunders is now the eighth woman in United States history to make three Olympic teams in the shot put, joining Michelle Carter (2008, ’12, ’16), Jill Camerena (2004, ’08, ’12), Ramona Pagel (1984, ’88, ’92, ’96), Maren Seidler (1968, ’72, ’76, ’80), Lynn Graham (1964, ’68, ’72), Earlene Brown (1956, ’60, ’64) — and, of course, the head coach at Ole Miss. Connie Price Smithwho participated in four Olympic Games: 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000.
In the men’s discus throw final, All-American graduate and three-time World Championship qualifier Brian Williams made it into the top eight again, finishing seventh with his season’s best of 65.03 m/213-4.
There is only one day left until the 2024 US Olympic Qualifiers on Sunday. One rebel has yet to compete: the star sophomore Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan in the men’s hammer final at 5:15 p.m. CT.
Results from day nine
Women’s 200-metre race – final
3. McKenzie Long – 21.91 (+0.6) – Team USA
Women’s Shot Put – Final
2. Raven Saunders – 19.90m/65-03.50 – Team USA – SB
10. Daniela Davis – 17.86m/58-07.25
11. Akaoma Odeluga – 17.08m/56-00.50
Discus Throw, Men – Final
7. Brian Williams – 65.03m/213-4 – SB
—–
Results from day eight
Women’s 200 metres – semi-finals
3. McKenzie Long – 22.01 (+0.6) AQ
Women’s Shot Put – Qualification
2. Raven Saunders – 19.54m/64-01.25 AQ – SB
8th. Akaoma Odeluga – 18.13m/59-05.75 AQ – PR, No. 2 US U20 history, No. 3 Ole Miss history, 2024 World U20 No. 2, 2024 US U20 No. 1
9. Daniela Davis – 18.07m/59-03.50 AQ
15. Mensi Stiff – 17.38 m/57-00.25 – Outdoor PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History
Men’s Hammer – Qualification
12. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 72.96m/239-4 AQ – PR, Ole Miss Record
—–
Results of the seventh day
Women’s 200m – First Round
5. McKenzie Long – 22.49 (+0.8) AQ
Men’s 5 km – First round
12. Anthony Camere – 13:31.41
Men’s 110m Hurdles – Semifinals
20. Ahmad Young, Jr. – 13.58 (-0.2)
Discus Throw, Men – Qualification
7. Brian Williams – 62.56m/205-3 AQ
—–
DAY SIX
Practical day
—–
DAY FIVE
Practical day
—–
Results from the fourth day
Men’s 1500 metres – Final
9. Craig Engels – 3:34.21 – SB
Men’s 110m Hurdles – First Round
21. Ahmad Young, Jr. – 13.46 (+1.8) – Tie PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
—–
Results from the third day
Men’s Pole Vault – Final
1. Sam Kendricks – 5.92m/19-5 – Team USA – Hit record
Women’s Hammer – Final
5. Janeah Stewart – 70.34m/230-9
11. Jasmine Mitchell – 59.74m/196-0
—–
RESULTS FROM THE SECOND DAY
Women’s 100 metres – semi-finals
12. McKenzie Long – 11.15 (+0.0)
24. Shannon Ray – 11.37 (+0.4)
Men’s 1500 metres – semi-finals
7. Craig Engels – 3:35.08Q – SB
8. Waleed Suliman – 3:35.72 – personal best
Shot Put, Men – Final
8th. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 20.98 m/68-10 – Outdoor PR, Ole Miss Outdoor Record
—–
RESULTS OF THE FIRST DAY
Women’s 100m – First Round
3. McKenzie Long – 10.94 (+0.4) AQ
27. Shannon Ray – 11.31 (+0.9)
30. Jahniya Bowers – 11.44 (+0.3)
Men’s 1500 metres – First round
22. Craig Engels – 3:38.69 AQ
28. Waleed Suliman – 3:39.12
Pole Vault Men – Qualification
T6. Sam Kendricks – 5.65m/18-06.50 AQ
Shot put, men – qualification
8th. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 20.49m/67-02.75 AQ
Hammer Women – Qualification
9. Janeah Stewart – 69.03m/226-5 AQ
12. Jasmine Mitchell – 65.49m/214-10 AQ
