“Today I just came out here, gave everything I had. I knew the last 100 was going to be hard,” said 16-year-old Quincy Wilson after qualifying for the finals at the 2024 USA Track and Field Trials. The Bulls School junior, already a rising star in the track and field world, has captivated audiences with his stellar performances in both national and international sprinting meets. 

During the qualifying heat on Friday, Wilson clocked an impressive 44.66 seconds, earning his spot in Sunday’s finals. It was in this final race that Wilson not only surpassed his own record but also shattered the world record twice, securing his place in history and igniting excitement as he headed to the Summer Olympics.

Quincy Wilson setting new benchmarks

In a recent tweet from @RGIII they shared the incredible clip of Quincy Wilson cruising to break the world record he set himself. They captioned it, “16 YEAR OLD Quincy Wilson just broke his own U18 World Record and High School record in the 400m with a 44.59. WHAT??!?! 2 World Records by Quincy in 2 days.” This was Quincy’s personal best. Wilson’s journey began with an impressive 44.66-second run in the qualifying heats, already marking him as a top contender. Surpassing this achievement in the finals with a 44.59-second finish, he has solidified his status as one of the brightest young talents in track and field.

Even NBC sports congratulated the sprinter on Twitter for his tremendous effort in the 400m semi-finals. They also declared that he had officially qualified for the finals. During the intense matches, Wilson came third behind Bryce Deadmon at 44.44s and Vernon Norwood 44.50s. “I’m just excited for myself,” he said after breaking the world record. He seemed unfazed by the level and degree of competition at the trials, saying, “I’m competing with them. I’m just thankful to be in this moment.” During the qualifiers, he had broken a 42-year-old record for a time of 44.69s. Earlier this year, Wilson made headlines by breaking the U.S. high school record at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. 

He completed the race in an impressive 45.76 seconds, a feat that has been widely celebrated in the track and field community. His upcoming race in the finals presents a thrilling opportunity as he will be competing against none other than Olympic gold medalist Michael Norman. Norman, known for his extraordinary accomplishments on the track, will be a formidable opponent. Fans are eagerly anticipating this showdown. The prospect of seeing Wilson go head-to-head with a seasoned Olympian adds an extra layer of excitement to the event. 

Track and field fans shower praises for the young athlete

Track and field fans soon took to Twitter after the exhilarating match to share their surprise and admiration at seeing Quincy Wilson perform. It was made especially exciting by just how young Wilson is. For example, during the last Olympics, he must have been 12-13 years old. One fan wrote expressing their admiration by drawing a parallel between young Wilson and veteran Usain Bolt. Apparently Bolt used to be quite shaky when he started out and Quincy’s strides are very confident. They wrote, “He kept a HUGE stride length for the whole 400m’s! I’ve never seen that! Even Bolt was choppy out the gates!”

Another fan wrote how Wilson’s natural talent is only going to get better with extended training. Especially the Olympics and the level of competition there will give Wilson a good idea on where to concentrate in his training. The fan wrote, “This kid will be a problem next year watch out WORLD he’s coming this experience is exactly what he needs.”

Next fan compared him to NFL player DeVonta Smith. Smith also broke a world record. In January last year, Smith’s 89th reception broke Irving Fryar’s Eagles record for wide receiver receptions. Fryar had 88 receptions for 1,195 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1996. The fan expressed their appreciation writing, “Amazing!  He looks like devonta smith lol”.

Another fan wrote about how incredible it is to watch an athlete be so dedicated that they best their own records. Wilson had broken a record in the National Indoors, now he’s overcome his own personal best. The fan expressed their pride saying, “I watched him break the record in March at the New Balance National Indoor in Boston. Now he’s cut a SECOND off that time. Insane!”

Last fan also applauded his performance. It is awe-inspiring to watch new and young athletes herald in a new generation, “What an incredible run by Quincy! So glad that he made the finals! Tomorrow night is going to be something special!” According to the fan, it is awe-inspiring to watch new and young athletes herald in a new generation. Wilson’s journey to the finals has captivated the hearts of many. As he prepares for this significant race, there is hope that he will make it to his first ever Olympics. 

As the race approaches, all eyes will be on Quincy Wilson. Fans are eager to see if he can continue his record-breaking streak and perhaps even surpass his own incredible achievements. As he prepares for the finals, there is hope that he will make it to his first ever Olympics.