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EUGENE, Ore. — There are moments when sprinter McKenzie Long wants to reach for the phone, call her mom and relay some good news that just happened. Like winning three titles at NCAA championships for Mississippi earlier this month. Or signing that pro deal with Adidas soon after. Or now that she's on the doorstep of earning a spot at the Paris Games, a dream they dreamed together. These are the moments she misses her mom the most. Long's mom, Tara Jones, died in her sleep of a heart attack earlier this year. Long won her semifinal heat of the 200 meters at U.S. Olympic track and field trials to earn a spot into the finals.
