Teen Sensation Christian Miller Faces Heartbreak While 16YO Quincy Wilson Makes Paris Olympics

“I dreamed about being an Olympian,” Quincy Wilson said once. The 16-year-old successfully made it to the relay pool, thus becoming the youngest American male sprinter to be part of the Olympic track team.  However, Christian Miller had to pay the price for Wilson’s achievement.  Despite finishing fifth in the 100m U.S. Olympic Trials with 9.98 seconds, the sprinter was left out.

Well, because there is room for subjectivity.  Qualifiers are determined based on the finishing order at the trials. However, when it comes to track and field, coaches are allowed to choose the athletes based on their ability to pass and receive the baton, ability to run the turn and/or straight leg, relay experience in the World Championships, World Relays, Pan Am Games, and Olympics, and several other criteria.  It is called the discretionary criteria, and some speculate that this is the reason why Miller got overlooked.

Despite the heartbreak, the sprinter took to Instagram and wrote, “Wish my season could have been extended to one last race but unfortunately USATF did not select me for the 2024 Paris Olympics 4×1 relay pool. Congrats to everyone who made it to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Gods plan”¦Cmilly Out.”  Interestingly, Quincy Wilson commented under Miller’s post with a red heart emoji, showing his support.

Christian Miller looked good entering the US Olympic trials. Soon, the teenage rocket from Florida topped the expectations with his third-place finish in the semifinal.  But in the stacked 100m final, he failed to make a similar mark as Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, Fred Kerley, and Christian Coleman crossed the finishing line before him.  Still, Christian Miller overpowered names like Courtney Lindsey and Kendal Williams in that event.

Miller’s coach, Ricky Fields, seemed unhappy with the relay pool decision.  He took to X and wrote, “Very disappointed in USATF @usatf by leaving Christian Miller off the 4×100 relay pool stating he didn’t have experience running 4×100 with pros and didn’t run in World relays which is limited to pros.”

Here’s how Miller performed in the 100m trials:

Well, the fans and the followers of Millers do not have to worry for long.  Miller looks like a good candidate for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Let us not forget that by then Lyles would be 30, Bednarek would be 29, Kerley would be 33, and Coleman would be 32.  So Miller might have to wait just a bit longer.