Lauren Scruggs wins silver medal in Fencing and makes history

Lauren Scruggs won a silver medal in Fencing after losing to fellow American Lee Kiefer in the Finals. Although she didn't bring home the gold, she made U.S.Fencing history. Scruggs became the first Black American woman to win an Olympic medal in individual competition, according to USA Fencing. She placed second in Women's Individual Foil.

“Fencing has largely, certainly been a non-Black sport,’’ Scruggs said. “So I hope to inspire young Black girls to get into fencing, so that they can have a place in the sport.

“I just hope that more people who look like me, girls that look like me, feel they have a place in the sport.’’

Silver for Lauren Scruggs! 🥈

The 21-year-old secures her first Olympic medal at the #ParisOlympics! pic.twitter.com/gR4r1Yau4Q

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 28, 2024

McKenzie Long qualifies for the U.S. Olympic team

McKenzie Long qualified for the U.S. Olympic team on Saturday.

Long finished third in the 200-meter final on Saturday to earn a spot with Team USA, and this is just the latest headline she has made in the world of track. In the NCAA Outdoor Championships earlier this month, she captured the triple crown, winning the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter relay in Eugene, Ore.

She is running in memory of her mother, Tara Jones, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack at just 45 right before the season started.

When she crossed the finish line Saturday she told reporters Friday after her first heat that she and her mom had dreamed together of attending the Olympics — with Long on the track, and Jones in the stands cheering her on.

McKenzie Long, inspired by her mom, earns a spot on the Olympic team in the 200m. #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/JstUJFw1qz

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024

Jasmine Moore wins triple jump at U.S. Olympic Trials, headed to Paris Olympics

Jasmine Moore already owns the American record in the women’s triple jump.

On her final jump of the competition, Moore won the triple jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. with a leap of 14.26 meters (46 feet, 9.50 inches). She qualified for her second straight Olympics, and she will enter the Paris Games in August as one of the favorites.

Moore came into the Olympic Trials ranked No. 7 in the world for 2024 and was the second-ranked American behind Keturah Orji. Orji was leading Saturday’s competition until the sixth and final round, when she jumped 14.22 meters (46-8) but was forced to settle for second place and a spot on her third Olympics team as Moore passed her.

Moore was a nine-time state champion at Lake Ridge and a seven-time NCAA champion in the triple jump and long jump at Florida before turning pro in 2023. She finished 23rd in the qualifying round at the Olympics in 2021, then broke the American record in the triple jump with a mark of 15.12 meters (49 feet, 7.25 inches) at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2023.

Jasmine Moore is leaping across the pond to Paris in the long jump! 🇫🇷#TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/xvdBn9AM65

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024

Tara Davis-Woodhall qualifies for Paris Olympics in long jump

Former Texas Longhorn track star Tara Davis-Woodhall won the long jump Saturday night to clinch a spot in next month’s Olympics in Paris.

Davis-Woodhall clinched her Olympics berth with a jump of seven meters.

Davis-Woodhall will be making her second appearance at the Olympics. She finished sixth at the Tokyo Olympics, which the Covid pandemic pushed back to 2021. Her best international finish was second at last year’s World Championship. She should be a medal favorite in Paris.

Jumping all the way to Paris!

Tara Davis-Woodhall has qualified for her second Olympic Games! #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/UtV1P9lV2z

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024