PARIS (WCMH) – Three central Ohio athletes took center stage in the track and field event of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Sunday.
Pickerington North graduate Annette Echikunwoke qualified for Tuesday’s gold medal round in the hammer throw. Her mark of 73.52m put her fourth of the 12 qualifiers from Group A.
Echikunwoke, a University of Cincinnati alumni, won the U.S. national title in the event in June to qualify for the Games.
“I just did my best. I went out there and I did my best,” Echikunwoke said of her performance Sunday.
Another Pickerington graduate, Pick Central’s McKenzie Long, qualified for the 200m semifinals.
Long ran a time of 22.55 seconds, winning her heat and snagging her spot in the semis, which will be run Monday afternoon.
Long, a University of Mississippi alum, grew up in Ironton.
“I'm so glad that I'm here, first and foremost, but I'm also glad I was able to, like, adjust to the atmosphere,” she said. ‘It’s different. It's different out there on that track. And, you know, I'm just taking it every moment that I have.”
Another hammer thrower, Dublin Coffman grad Oyesade Olatoye, failed to move on in the event.
Throwing for Nigeria, Olatoye threw 66.41m, placing 14th in Group B.
“You know, I just thank God, like, you know, throughout the injuries and adversities, to be able to get here,” she said. “Although the competition didn't go the way I wanted to, it’s just another opportunity, so I’m just blessed.”
Follow all of Sunday’s highlights by clicking here, and follow all of NBC4’s Olympic coverage here.
