McKenna Keegan led a major upset in the women’s 400-meter race at the Morton Games

DUBLIN — American athlete McKenna Keegan surpassed her teammate, Allie Wilson, by a fraction of a second during the women’s 400 on Friday night which left the Morton Games in a major upset. 

She finished with a 1:59.82, a personal best, while Wilson, a Paris Olympic qualifier, ran a 2:00.48. Irish runner Louise Shanahan was not far behind finishing third with a 2:00.92. Anticipation was quite high as Keegan and Wilson were neck and neck at the last 100 meters of the race. I watched as a group of kids ran up to the gate to watch Keegan as she kicked into gear and secured the victory. 

“If I wasn't going to win I wanted to do my best to get as close to the front as I could,” Keegan said of her initial approach. A strategy is necessary for this fast-paced race. As soon as the gun went off, the tension on the field spike. Up until her last drive for first place, Keegan maintained a steady pace with competitors Shanahan, Charn Swart, and Kimberley Finenec. 

“I mean, the main strategy, obviously, is to get the win,” Keegan said. The 25-year-old Villanova graduate left the track smiling as the crowd roared. The neon blue track complimented her bright blue shorts as she walked towards the kids and families waiting to get their pictures taken with the promising athlete. 

“So I'm just happy that the races are coming together and I'm able to get some wins underneath my belt,” she said.” In the upcoming days Keegan will compete in Italy until ultimately heading back to the States for training. 

Women competing in the 400-meter run at the Morton Games start their last lap.