Track and field trials: Sprinter McKenzie Long inspired by late mother

EUGENE, Ore. — It’s a reflex, muscle memory of a soul that hasn’t moved on, an automatic reaction really.

And why wouldn’t it be?

For 23 years Tara Jones was always there for her daughter McKenzie Long. Why wouldn’t she be now?Especially now?

And so over the past month, a month in which she has emerged as the next great American sprinter, Long has repeatedly turned to tell her mother something, reached for her phone to share her joy. And her blues.Brief moments, that blink of an eye between the past and cold reality, reminders that her mind still hasn’t caught up with her broken heart.

One night in February, Jones went to sleep and never woke up, the victim of a heart attack at 45.

Jones’ death came just as Long, competing for Ole Miss, was on the cusp of turning in one of the most dominant sprint seasons in collegiate history and establishing herself as a legitimate Olympic medal contender at 200 meters.

Long swept the 100 and 200 titles and ran a leg on the victorious 4×100 relay at the NCAA Championships earlier this month. Her winning 200 time of 21.83 seconds is the fastest time in the world this year by more than two-tenths of a second. It was a weekend full of moments Long wanted to share with her mother.

There have been more moments at the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field. Like when Long was unexpectedly eliminated in the semi-finals of the 100 Saturday night. Or Thursday when Long won her first round 200 heat in 22.49.

Sha’Carri Richardson, the 100 winner earlier in the Trials, led all qualifiers at 21.99. Gabby Thomas, the World Championships silver and Olympic Games bronze medalist, won her heat in 22.11.

“Nationals was a big one, just because you know I won three times, it happened so fast, It was a blur moment,” Long said. “Honestly I can’t even remember how that meet was besides the fact that I won. But, yeah, that was one of those moments where I really wish I could call her.”

Long paused for a moment.

“When I first put that pro team uniform on, I was like, I really wish she could see me in my pro uniform,” Long said looking down at her adidas kit, having signed with the German shoe company after NCAAs. “So yeah, I really don’t want to stop including her in this track world. Even in the pro world, I want to include her in every way possible. And that’s what’s keeping me going and keeps me motivated.”

Long’s determination was first evident at North Carolina State when she came back from a hip injury that left her sidelined for 12 months, through the 2021 outdoor and 2022 indoor seasons. The injury was so serious that at one point doctors thought she might need a hip replacement.

After transferring to Ole Miss, she gained national attention with a wind-aided 10.80 100 at the Texas Relays in March, 2023.

Through it all, the days of pain and the days when she raced the wind, Jones was there for her, nurturing her, pushing her.

“She always told me you need to get your voice, you need to learn how to speak up to yourself,” Long said. “That’s what I’m navigating now and it’s a different feel on top of it.

“Coming into my pro transition it’s like weird because my mom, she wanted to be involved with all the hands on stuff. And it’s hard because I’m just, ‘Mom, what do you think of this?’ But it also allowed me to grow, allows me to have my own voice.”

Long was asked if she thought about what her mom would think if she puts on a Team USA uniform at the Olympic Games in Paris later this summer.

“I have,” she said. “I think that’s going to be another monumental moment for sure.

“Another hard reality moment.”

Another moment where Long will turn toward the person who was always there. Maybe it’s reflex. Maybe it’s something more. Maybe there are people who play such a big part in our lives that they never leave us.

Long was recently asked if she thought Jones saw her NCAA victories.

She nodded yes.

“I felt her with me.”