Emily in Paris: From walk-on to Olympian, Binghamton’s Mackay continues ‘dream come true’

Emily Mackay was in tears pulling up to the Olympic track stadium in Paris on Tuesday. 

Normally, this reaction is a byproduct of nerves. It's not unusual for her to cry before a significant race. 

This moment was different, however. 

This was the moment she had a dreamed of and often never believed would come. As she took in the sight of the venue for the 1500-meter preliminary race, the weight of her journey hit her. 

"Today I teared up, and it wasn't just from nerves. It was from pride and just a feeling of accomplishment and disbelief of the fact that I even made it here," she said. "The fact that I was headed to the stadium to become an Olympian was a dream come true."

She gets to live the dream a few days longer after finishing sixth in her 1500-meter heat, punching her ticket to Thursday's semifinals and avoiding the repechage round. 

"I'm very happy. I just wanted to make it through today with a big Q," she said. "I'm happy with how I felt and I'm happy with how I raced and just excited to be through to the next round."

Mackay's Olympic journey began at Binghamton University. Her path to the top of her sport was anything but straightforward. After a successful high school career in upstate New York, she initially attended Oregon State but soon found herself homesick and dealing with a lingering toe injury. She transferred to Binghamton, just 10 minutes from her hometown of Endicott, New York, where she joined the track and field team as a walk-on.

"It ended up being the best decision I ever made," Mackay shared with Runner's World ahead of the Olympics. 

Under the guidance of Binghamton coach Annette Acuff, Mackay became the most accomplished Binghamton student-athlete during its 24-year NCAA Division I era. She finished her career as a five-time All-American and won seven America East championships between cross country and track and field. She placed a program-best 14th overall at the 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships and was sixth overall in the 1500 at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

"I wouldn't be here, honestly, if it weren't for Binghamton University and for my coach," she said. "I am so lucky that my journey at Binghamton was what it was. I walked on to that team and didn't know what was going to happen." 

After her first Olympic race, which she finished in 3:59.63, Mackay said more important than the valuable athletic development that occurred as a Bearcat was the joy that returned to her as a runner. 

 "I had to fall back in love with running again, and my coach there really helped me to do that. She was very patient with me. She is really the one who inspired me to try to get to this level. It was definitely a process, a long, long process to fall back in love with this sport and kind of get motivated again," she said. "I feel like I had a very nice progression throughout my whole running career, and I've had such amazing coaches and people supporting me through the years in high school and in college. 

"I've been very fortunate I found my way back home in my hometown at Binghamton University. I just knew that was the place I needed to be. I just love the community and the area, and I think that's what brought me back." 

Mackay's career took off after she graduated in 2022 and joined Team New Balance Boston, coached by Mark Coogan. Surrounded by other standout athletes from small-conference schools, she thrived. The past two years have been transformative for Mackay, with personal bests in every distance and bronze medals at the 2023 Pan American Games and the 2024 World Indoor Championships in March. 

Her performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where she ran a nearly four-second personal record of 3:55.90 to secure her spot on the Olympic team, was a historic moment. She became the first Binghamton athlete to qualify for the U.S. Olympic track and field team. 

"I'm super proud to be here. It's a dream come true," she said. "I'm super proud of where I'm from and super thankful for all the people who have helped me get here throughout my years at Binghamton. I'm proud to be a Bearcat and excited to represent Binghamton University at the Olympics."