IRONTON, OH (WOWK) – From the moment McKenzie Long started track and field at Ironton Middle School, her coaches said they knew she was special.
About a decade later, she’s embarking on the journey to Pairs, representing Team U.S.A. at the 2024 Olympics.
“That moment when I saw that we have an Olympian I thought, ‘there’s nothing like that,’” said Kevin Richardson, Track and Field Coach at Ironton Middle School. “As far as me as a coach, that’s number one [moments], just knowing that coach [Amy] Perry and I had something to do with as McKenzie says, ‘creating that spark,’ and that’s all we wanted to do, that’s all we try to do, create a spark.”
Ironton native McKenzie Long headed to Paris Olympics On Saturday, Richardson and Ironton Middle School Coach Amy Perry watched hundreds of miles away as Long placed third in the 200-meter final at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon.
“As soon as the gun went off I jumped up, I’m pretty sure I was screaming at the TV,” Perry said. “As soon as she came around the corner though I knew that she had it. I knew that she was going to get there.”
Long’s former teammates Ali Malone and Alexis Wise said she was always fast, sprinting through the finish line and beating out the competition. That’s exactly what they saw this past weekend at the trials.
“It’s just so exciting to hear and see that the world is finally now seeing the talent that we all got to witness for so long,” Wise said.
Wise and Malone said they’re going to continue cheering her on every step of the way, along with the rest of the Ironton community.
“Kenzie, we are so proud of you and we’re cheering you on from our small town along with everyone else in the United States,” Malone said.
“I’m so excited because I know this is just the beginning, and I know your mom is beyond proud of you and all of your family, Wise said. “We love you and Ironton is so proud of you. You got this.”
Even though she’ll be wearing red, white and blue in a few weeks, they said Long will always be a Fighting Tiger.
The Paris Olympics begin July 26 with the Track and Field events starting in August.
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