McKenzie Long says her mom’s spirit carried her through race for Olympic team
McKenzie Long’s mother, Tara Jones, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at just 45 right before the season started. Long said she heard her mother’s voice on the track.
High school phenom Quincy Wilson is on his way to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Wilson will be a part of the men’s 4×400-relay pool for Team USA’s track and field squad.
Wilson now becomes the youngest male U.S. track and field Olympian ever after his superb performance in the at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon.
The young runner received the news Sunday, Wilson’s coach Joe Lee confirmed to USA TODAY. The team won’t formally be announced until July 8.
“The call came directly to me from USA Track & Field,” Lee told USA TODAY. “I called Quincy afterwards with the good news.”
Wilson took the track and field world by storm at the Trials. The 16-year-old wonderkid broke the under-18 world record in the opening round of the 400, blazing one lap around the track in 44.66 seconds. The high school record he broke stood for 42 years. Then Wilson bested the time in the semifinals Sunday, running a 44.59 to qualify for the finals.
In the final, the 16-year-old from Bullis High School in Maryland missed out on the three automatic qualifying spots when he finished in sixth, running a 44.94.
Quincy Hall, won the 400, running a personal best 44.17. Michael Norman finished second at 44.41, and Chris Bailey got the third and final automatic qualifying spot with a time of 44.42.
“Three consecutive sub-44s is just amazing,” Wilson said in Eugene. “All I know is I gave it everything I had, and I can’t be disappointed. At the end of the day, I’m 16 running grown man times.”
Wilson had told reporters after the 400 he was going to keep praying about making the team and hold off on junk food this summer.
“I don’t know if my season is over yet, I don’t want to go eat ice cream too soon,” Wilson said after running the 400. “I could be getting that call and have to regroup. I’m just gonna keep my head down and keep praying on it and hope I make the team.”
Wilson’s hopes and prayers were answered. He probably won’t be eating any ice cream for a while.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
Source link : https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/07/01/quincy-wilson-track-relay-pool-paris-olympics/74262943007/
Author :
Publish date : 2024-07-02 07:08:49
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.