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.
The U.S. track and field Olympic trials come to a close Sunday after a thrilling 10 days of competition in Eugene, Oregon. The day is packed with 11 finals, culminating with the men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles.
A trio of reigning Olympic medalists headline hurdle events today: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who won gold in Tokyo, should lead a stacked field in the women’s 400 hurdles to close out the trials; and silver medalists Keni Harrison (women’s 100 hurdles) and Rai Benjamin (men’s 400 hurdles).
When the day is over, the field of competitors for individual events at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer will be set.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ live updates from on the ground at the U.S. track and field Olympic trials.
What time do US track and field finals begin Sunday?
The first final Sunday, the men’s hammer throw, begins at 5:50 p.m. ET. The last event is the women’s 400-meter hurdles scheduled for 8:29 p.m. ET.
How to watch the US track and field Olympic trials
All events are streamed live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC and NBC Sports apps. NBC will broadcast Sunday’s finals from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
WATCH: 2024 U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials FREE on Fubo
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her dominance in the women’s 400 hurdles, setting (another) world record Sunday at Hayward Field in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials finale. McLaughlin-Levrone crossed the finish line in 50.65 seconds, then covered her mouth in shock upon seeing her time.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s previous world record, also set at Hayward Field, was 50.68, which she ran at the 2022 World Championships.
Anna Cockrell (52.64) was second and Jasmine Jones (52.77) was third and will join McLaughlin-Levrone in Paris. −Lindsay Schnell
Hoppel stamped his ticket to Paris in a big way. Hoppel led both laps in the 800 and crossed the finish line running a meet record and personal-best 1:42.77.
Hoppel’s training partner, Hobbs Kessler, came in second place with a personal-best time of 1:43.64.
Brandon Miller took the third and final qualifying spot, running a 1:43.97. −Tyler Dragon
Fisher and Nur were running stride for stride in the final lap of the men’s 5000. But Fisher had one last kick that got him the win as he posted a meet record time of 13:08.85.
Nur was right behind in second, finishing in 13:09.01.
Parker Wolfe came in third, running a personal-best 13:10.75.
Fisher also won the 10,000 to qualify for the Olympics on June 21. −Tyler Dragon
Haugh won the men’s hammer with a season-best throw of 260 feet, 10 inches. Rudy Winkler came in second, throwing 258 feet, 10 inches.
Haugh and Winkler were the only two throwers in the competition with the Olympic standard.
Shelby McEwen won the event, leaping 7 feet, 6½ inches. McEwen was the only jumper in the competition with the Olympic standard.
Could Quincy Wilson go to the Olympics?
Quincy Wilson, the 16-year-old sprinting sensation who captivated the Hayward Field crowd when he made the final in the men’s 400, has an outside shot at going to Paris to make the men’s 4×400 relay pool.
Hall finished sixth in the 400 final with a time of 44.94. He has the 24th fastest 400 time in the world this year, having clocked a 44.59 on June 23 at the trials semifinals. He said after the final that he wasn’t going to stop training until he knew for sure his season was over, adding that he wasn’t sure if he should expect to make the relay pool because those decisions are “so political.”
The relay pool is decided by relay coaches Mike Marsh and Mechelle Freeman. They will announce the team no later than July 8, but athletes and their individual coaches will be notified sooner — potentially as soon as late Sunday night — so athletes can start practicing together. −Lindsay Schnell
McLaughlin-Levrone had the fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles semifinals Saturday, clocking a 52.48 to easily advance to the finals Sunday.
Every time McLaughlin-Levrone steps on the track there’s a chance she could set a world record, and some expect that to happen Sunday. She is the defending gold medalist and a heavy favorite to repeat in Paris. McLaughlin-Levrone also has a gold in the 4×400 from Tokyo, and is expected to be on that relay team again.
If you missed any of the events this week or last, we have you covered with a list of results for the top 3 finishers in each event who will be get an automatic bid to the Paris Olympics.
Christina Clemons and Keni Harrison took the two automatic qualifying spots in the first heat of the women’s 100-meter hurdles semifinal Saturday. Clemons and Harrison both ran a 12.52. But upon review, Clemons was deemed the winner by a slight margin.
Ironically, Alaysha Johnson and Tonea Marshall also crossed the finish line with the exact same time of 12.36 to pace the second semifinal heat. Johnson was named the winner after the review.
Masai Russell also posted a 12.36 to win the third and final semifinal heat.
Johnson, Marshall and Russell have the top qualifying times entering Sunday’s final at 8 p.m. ET.
Olympic trials schedule today
5:50 p.m. – M hammer final
6:15 p.m. – W pole vault final
6:30 p.m. – M high jump final
6:55 p.m. – M triple jump final
7:10 p.m. – W javelin final
7:30 p.m. – M 5,000m final
7:51 p.m. – M 800m final
8 p.m. – W 100m hurdles final
8:09 p.m. – W 1,500m final
8:20 p.m. – M 400m hurdles final
8:29 p.m. – W 400m hurdles final