1,500 miles? Seriously? Yep, that’s how far Vernon Norwood, a 2x Olympic champ and track star, traveled from Morgan City, Louisiana, just to watch Quincy Wilson do his thing in Boston. And now? “Track’s favorite 400m duo” is blowing up everywhere! Wilson didn’t just show up, he showed out, snagging his third New Balance Nationals 400m title. But wait! Norwood’s not just his mentor since the Paris 2024 Olympics, they’re tight, like brothers, despite a 15-year age gap. And before the race? Oh, Vernon had some serious questions about Quincy’s choices.

So, Quincy Wilson had the flu a week before the race! Yup, didn’t even train. But guess what? He still showed up and did what he did best! The Bullis School athletes crushed it in the 400m at New Balance Nationals Indoor. Clocking 45.71, he beat his previous mark of 45.76 from last year. And just when you thought he was done, he anchored Bullis High School’s indoor 4x400m relay with a jaw-dropping 45.94-second split, helping the team obliterate the national indoor record with a blazing 3:09.44 finish. But, before the race, Wilson ate something so unusual that even Vernon was left scratching his head when he revealed it recently.

Citius Mag recently posted on Instagram, where Chris Chavez, Vernon, and Wilson were chatting, and Wilson revealed a pre-race choice that had everyone cracking up. Vernon was still trying to wrap his head around the whole thing, laughing as he recalled getting tagged in a comment saying, “He definitely had that Starbucks toilet before he ran the day.” Vernon laughed, saying, “Yo, that’s crazy.”

Chris, intrigued, asked Wilson to share his Starbucks order. Wilson casually said, “Giant tea latte with five pumps of vanilla, vanilla sweet cream, and you gotta add caramel drizzle on top.” Chris jokingly responded, “Diabetes in a cup.” Vernon, laughing even harder, said, “Sugar. That’s the kids’ drink!”

Wilson just grinned and replied, “Yeah, I was trying to cook cookie.” Vernon then couldn’t help but laugh and added, “He basically said if you had that drink, you’d have been profiled.” And just after this video was posted Vernon even commented on it saying, “I actually ordered it, and it almost gave me a heart attack! SMH. but it was good 😂😂”

It’s not just a funny moment, it really shows the growing bond between the two of them. Ever since that pep talk, their connection has only gotten stronger, day by day!

The turning point for Quincy Wilson

Wilson and Vernon were Olympic relay teammates, and their bond was tested during one of the most pivotal moments of their careers. Quincy Wilson had a fairytale debut, but that soon turned into a nightmare when a slow start in the 4x400m relay nearly cost Team USA their chance in the finals. As the 17-year-old sprinter struggled with his performance, Vernon, the 32-year-old veteran, saw his opportunity to step in and offer some much-needed guidance.

“I told Quincy, ‘Don’t even worry about that stuff. You’re about to walk away with an Olympic gold medal at 16 years old,’” Vernon reassured him, knowing just how crucial it was to keep the then 16-year-old teenager’s confidence intact. After the heats, the two sprinters shared a heartfelt moment on the track. Vernon, ever the mentor, said to Wilson, “You did your job. It’s not about times or places; this is a relay. We all have a job, and you did yours. I did mine, Bryce did his, and Christy did his. We all did our part to qualify for the next round.”

His words were both calming and motivating, easing Wilson’s disappointment. But Vernon didn’t stop there. He looked Wilson in the eye and told him, “I’m going to get you a gold medal. I promise you.” Those words weren’t just comforting—they were a promise of belief, and it lit a fire in Wilson. With that, Quincy Wilson found the strength to push forward and claim the Olympic gold. Since then, their bond’s been rock solid!