Strong Like McKenzie Long

(Photo: McKenzie Long after running 10.92 seconds at the East First Round)

As of July 1, McKenzie Long had the world's fastest 200 meters time of the year at 22.03 seconds. The All-American senior from Ole Miss is also eighth in the world in the 100 meters with a time of 10.92 seconds.

On May 25, in Lexington, Kentucky, Winners Only was there to see Long run the 10.92-second 100 meters finish at the East First Round. That was the fastest time of the day as well as the best 100 meters finish in school history.

After leaving North Carolina State following the 2022 outdoor season, Long became one of the best sprinters in the NCAA at Ole Miss. Last year she was a silver medalist in the 200 meters and she also ran in the 100 meters final where she finished ninth at the NCAA Championships.

When speaking on her improvement since arriving at Ole Miss, Long attributed it to an improved mental state. "I want to say mindset," she said. "Coming from an ACC school to SEC school is a big jump in terms of competition and people who are big in the track world. I want to say mindset, being confident in what you're doing goes a long way."

While running the best times of her life, Long is feeling her best physically as well. "I was telling [my] coach, the [Olympic] trials are soon [and] I'm [consistently] running low times," Long said. "I'm coming out healthy. That was one of my issues last year. My body wasn't used to these rounds so I'm looking forward for what is to come."

As Long blew all competitors away while also posting the East First Round's top 200 meters time of 22.10, one wouldn't know the struggles that she has had to overcome as of late. While at North Carolina State, she never won an ACC championship or advanced to the NCAA Championships. Now at Ole Miss, she is a two-time SEC 200 meters champ and has earned First Team All-America honors on four occasions.

When asked about advice that she would give a person who may not be number one today, but has high aspirations to get to the top of whatever they do, she said, "I would tell them to dream big. You know, I'm the queen of adversity. I overcame hip surgery. I'm overcoming my mom passing three months ago, so anything's possible as long as you put your mind to it. Winners dream big. Don't fall short. That's all I have to say."

Injury Takes Down NCAA Bronze Medalist Chastity Pickett

(Photo: Chastity Pickett suffers injury in 400-meter hurdles at East Regional)

Just one weekend shy of a year ago, Campbell's Chastity Pickett was one of the biggest Cinderella Stories in track and field. Pickett was one of just two participants in the 400-meter hurdles final last year at the NCAA Championships who didn't compete in a Power Five Conference. For those who don't know, the Power Five are seen as the elite in the NCAA, which are the ACC, Big Ten, Big Twelve, PAC-12 and SEC.

Pickett won the bronze medal with a third place finish putting herself on the same podium with favorites Savannah Sutherland of Michigan and Masai Russell of Kentucky who finished first and second respectively.

This year, Pickett looked to be in the hunt again for another NCAA medal in the event, but midnight struck on the Coastal Athletic Association 400-meter hurdles champ on the final day of the East First Round. As the hurdlers approached the finish, Pickett seemed to be struggling with pain and shortly after jumping over the last hurdle, she went down.

The First Team All-American had to be carted out of the stadium as she suffered from a shin injury that had been nagging her all season but finally took its toll. Pickett went on Instagram to tell her followers what happened at the end of the race.

"My collegiate season is officially over," she wrote. "It didn't end the way I wanted it to, due to an injury I've been running on in both sides of my shin since the start of my outdoor season."

The 12 hurdlers that did advance during from the East First Round in the 400 meter hurdles are the aforementioned Sutherland as well as Shani'a Bellamy (LSU), Simone Watkins (Howard), Gabrielle Matthews (Ole Miss), Kyla Robisnon-Hubbard (Tennessee), Zoe Pollock (Georgia), Tyra Wilson (Florida State), Chloe Fair (Harvard), Chelby Melvin (Murray State), Ken'naria Gadson (Clemson), Leah Phillips (LSU) and Dominique Mustin (Georgia).

The NCAA Track and Field Championships will take place June 6 and June 8 in Eugene, Oregon.