Full Relay: Ole Miss’ Long saved best for last (200m) in claiming outdoor triple crown
McKenzie Long cemented her status as an Ole Miss icon living with her tour-de-force performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last weekend.
Long put forth one of the best single-day efforts in track and field history, including a world-leading and wind-legal 21.83 time in her self-described best competition, the 200-meter.
Long exploded off the curve and into the cheering homestretch to secure the second-fastest time ever by a college short-sprinter in the event. It’s 10th-best all-time mark in the U.S., as well as No. 24 in the world.
“I talk to my mom every day,” said Long, whose mother passed away during the indoor season. “Everything I do is for her. And in those blocks right there, I said ‘Mom, this is my last race, just push me through.’ And she did.
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“This year was so hard for me. I’m just so blessed to be here.”
Long is just the 15th woman in outdoors to double-up on titles in both the 100 and 200-meter. She’s one of six winners of the triple crown. Long ran the second leg in Ole Miss’ record-setting 4×100-meter relay win.
Long, in all, ran six world-class races in the span of 48 hours.
“Whenever I crossed the 200 line, I was balling my eyes out,” Long said. “Honestly, without grieving and without going through that process, I don’t think I could have found myself this season.
“I definitely found myself this season. That really helped me grow as an athlete and as a person. I’m just getting stronger every day.”
