McKenzie Long of Ole Miss celebrates her win in the women’s 200 meters on the fourth day of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on June 8, 2024. (USA TODAY)
Exciting news is on the horizon for the Ole Miss Rebels' track and field team, as star athlete McKenzie Long has earned her place on the U.S. Olympic team. Long clinched her spot by finishing third in the 200-meter final on Saturday, marking another significant achievement in her burgeoning career.
Long's qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics adds to an already impressive year. Earlier this month, at the NCAA Outdoor Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, she achieved a remarkable triple crown. Long won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter sprint, and the 4x100-meter relay, solidifying her status as one of the top track athletes in the nation.
Adding to her impressive accomplishments, Long recently announced that she has officially turned professional. She signed a major endorsement deal with Adidas, marking a new chapter in her athletic career.
However, this success comes amidst personal tragedy for Long. She is running not only for her own glory but in memory of her mother, Tara Jones. Tara passed away unexpectedly due to a heart attack just before the start of the track season. Despite her grief, Long has been open about how her mother's memory continues to inspire her. During the NCAA Championships, she shared that she still talks to her mother before races. “I told her, ‘Mom this is my last race, push me through’ — and she did,” Long revealed in an interview with USA Today.
Long's qualification is part of a broader wave of success for the Ole Miss track and field team. She is the second Rebel athlete to secure a spot in the upcoming Olympics. Former Ole Miss pole vaulter Sam Kendricks also secured his place for Paris earlier this week. Kendricks had previously expressed doubts about participating in the Paris Games due to a controversy from the 2021 Olympics. He was disqualified from the competition after testing positive for COVID-19, which raised concerns about his participation in the 2024 Games. However, he has decided to move past those issues and represent his country once again.
The 2024 Summer Olympics are scheduled to kick off on July 26 and will run until August 11. With McKenzie Long and Sam Kendricks representing Ole Miss, the university will have strong representation in Paris. Long’s journey is particularly inspiring, as she balances her achievements with the personal challenge of honoring her late mother’s memory. Her story exemplifies resilience and dedication, and fans will be eagerly watching to see how she performs on the global stage.
