The New Balance Nationals Indoor was important for Quincy Wilson. He was going after a third consecutive 400 meter national title. The only person standing in his way on Saturday in Boston from accomplishing that was the person that beat him head-to-head at The VA Showcase back on January 18: Andrew Salvodon. In an epic 500 meter race in Virginia Beach, Salvodon edged out the Bullis MD star by a margin of 1:00.49 to 1:02.49, creating shockwaves around the country. So a redemption was also due.

The 400 meter high school record holder can now call it even with the 500 meter high school record holder after running a meet record 45.71 seconds in the 400 at the TRACK at New Balance, just .05s off his high school national record. Heading into the race on March 15, Wilson took the advantage through the first 200 meters in 21.34 seconds, with Salvodon trailing nearly three quarters-of-a-second. When Wilson hit the backstretch the final time, Salvodon came up strongly and closed in on the heels of Wilson heading into the final turn. Under 50 meters to go, Salvodon fell off pace and couldn’t match Wilson’s final surge, resulting in a second-place finish.

“It wasn’t about beating somebody,” Wilson said after the win. “I just wanted to be myself and go out there and execute my race. I knew if I executed my race, great things would happen.” So, yes, it did, Again. As wishes poured in, one reaction stood out—his girlfriend took notice and did her bit with an adorable social media post.

Solai Russell reshared a post from Citius Mag on her story on March 15, which showed Wilson in his white Bullis tank top and blue shorts, race bib reading “WILSON,” as he powered through the finish line, shattering the tape marked “Records are meant to be broken” and the New Balance logo. Behind him, Andrew Salvodon chases in a purple jersey. The image was stamped with bold gold text: “CHAMPION.” Above it, “400 Meters.” Below, is his winning time: 45.71. And then the caption: “QUINCY ALWAYS GETS THE JOB DONE.” Solai didn’t need many words. She simply reshared it, adding, “we alr knew what it was. so proudddd .”

Solai Russell’s admiration for Quincy Wilson has never been a secret. Long before his latest achievement, she had shown her support when Wilson, then 16-year-old track and field athlete, was named the youngest person in the ‘Dazed 100′ “inspirational young talent” list last year. Wilson’s inclusion was already a remarkable feat, and it became even more special as he shared the spotlight with acclaimed filmmakers like Jeannie Sui Wonder and Sean Wang. Overwhelmed by the recognition, Solai took to her Instagram story to reshare Dazed’s post with a caption, “Could never be more proud.”

The relationship between Wilson and Russell begins at Maryland’s Bullis School. What makes their connection adorable is how Wilson has embraced the entire Russell family. He’s been spotted supporting Solai’s brother Zion, who plays for the Niagara Purple Eagles. He showed his dedication to the Russell family last November when he took time to support Solai’s brother. “Tuned in Etherealzionrussell,” Wilson posted on his Instagram story as he watched Zion and the Niagara Purple Eagles take on Houghton. The support seemed to bring good fortune, and the Purple Eagles dominated with a convincing 100-65 victory over Houghton.

Not only that, but Quincy Wilson shares a great bond with her sister Masai Russell. The athletic power trio, Quincy, Solai, and Masai, linked up at a Rod Wave concert last year, documenting their night out with luxury rentals and plenty of energy. Masai, keeping it simple in the comments on their photos, summed it up best: “😍😍😍 period.”

With that kind of athletic pedigree around him, it’s no surprise that Quincy Wilson has been making waves on the track this season, proving he’s a star in his own right.

Quincy Wilson defies odds, having started conquering the tracks early in life

After the loss at VA Showcase, Wilson was in no mood for second place on February 2. The New Balance Grand Prix wasn’t just another race, it was his statement. Lining up against elite runners like Will Sumner and Jereem Richards, he played it smart. Through 200 meters, he stayed patient. Then, with the instincts of a champion, he surged. The clock stopped at 45.66. A new U.S. high school and World U18 indoor record. Quincy Wilson wasn’t going anywhere.

Three weeks later, he tested himself against the nation’s best at the USA Indoor Championships. Heavy traffic, lane battles, a fight to the finish—Wilson clawed his way to fifth in 46.13. No record this time, but a lesson was learned. The invitation to World Indoors arrived, but school came first. Quincy Wilson addressed his decision on Instagram in February: “This weekend was a true blessing. I had the opportunity to race alongside the top 400m runners in the country and gained valuable experience for future indoor competitions.”

On declining the Team USA invite, he was clear: “I’m grateful to have received the invitation to join Team USA in Nanjing, China, but of course, school comes first!” This journey of Wilson started quite early in his life. The second child of the family started running in Severna Park, Maryland, when “some coach saw me running when I was a little kid and he directed me toward a track club in the Fort Meade area. My dad is in the military, and we moved to Virginia. I started running with Track 757, which is Grant Holloway’s dad’s organization. I started training with them.”

His father, Roy, said, “Football was his first love. We used track as a thing for him to try. I was just filming these little videos. He was so far out — there wasn’t another kid in the frame.” Still experimenting with a variety of events, Wilson was winning AAU Junior Olympics titles in the 200, 400, hurdles and even scored a 2nd in the pentathlon when he was in 5th grade. By middle school, the 400 started to emerge as his stronghold. He ran 50.87 as a 7th-grader. A year later, he improved to 47.59.

When the elder Wilson retired from the Navy, he and his wife Monique opted to move back to Maryland so that Quincy could run for the Bullis team, one of the nation’s superpowers under the coaching of Joe Lee. “My parents always looked for the best for me,” Wilson said. With all that support, he surges ahead, overcoming his asthma problems. Even during the Indoor Nationals, he was on inhalers. But looks like he is on a mission to turn debacles into miracles.