Dublin's Steiner, Pick Central's Long qualify for 200m final at U.S. Olympic Trials

EUGENE, Ore. (WCMH) -- Dublin native Abby Steiner and Pickerington Central grad McKenzie Long will race for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team after running top four times in the semifinal heats of the women's 200m dash on Friday at Hayward Field.

Steiner ran the fourth fastest time in the semifinals with a season's best 22.03, finishing second in her semifinal heat behind Gabby Thomas, who ran 21.78, the fastest time in the world this season. Women's 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson (21.92) and Long (22.01) ran the second and third fastest times in the semifinals respectively.

The 24-year-old Dublin Coffman graduate, who has overcome injuries, looks to make her first Olympic appearance. Steiner won world championship gold medals in 2022 as part of the women's 4x400m and 4x100m relay teams and finished fifth in the individual 200m race that year.

Long, a 2018 graduate from Pick Central, won three NCAA titles this season in her senior season for Ole Miss in the 100 and 200 meter sprints and as a member of the 4x100m relay.

Ohio State's Anavia Battle was also looking to advance in the competition but just missed out on qualifying, finishing with the tenth fastest time in the semifinals despite running a season's best 22.33 seconds.

The top three finishers will automatically qualify for Paris. The final is set to be run at 8:27 p.m. on Saturday.

Elsewhere at the Trials, Ohio State's Adelaide Aquilla qualified for the next round of the women's shot put. The Buckeyes graduate student recorded a throw of 19.25 meters in her first attempt. Aquilla is looking to make her second Olympic team and will compete in the final on Saturday night.

Lakewood, Ohio native Katie Moon moved on to the final of the women's pole vault after clearing a height of 4.50 meters. The final will take place on Sunday.