Despite not yet being eligible for a driver’s license, Quincy Wilson has a world record to his name. During the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on June 21, the 16-year-old, etched his name in history by winning the men’s 400-meter heat in 44.66 seconds, an under-18 record. This feat also meant he beat a long standing American high school record. His effort in Eugene also drew the attention of Noah Lyles.
For the race, Quincy Wilson was wearing a singlet, adorned with a Maryland state flag pattern. This design was crafted by him in collaboration with New Balance. As NBC Sports uploaded a video on X showing Wilson’s winning race, Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion in both the 100m and 200m, reacted to the video with a shout-out.
“I love this uniform, it’s so Maryland!” It seems he is thoroughly impressed by Wilson—not just his performance but also the way he has been carrying himself on the track. Lyles has repeatedly been in awe of emerging talent on the track. This isn’t the first time Lyles has acknowledged Wilson’s talent.
Earlier in the season, Wilson broke the indoor 400m junior world record with a time of 45.76 seconds at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston, prompting Lyles to tweet, “He is HIM!” showing his admiration for the young athlete’s abilities.
16-year-old Quincy Wilson just ran the fastest U18 400m EVER! 😱 #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/CbV27Q11OS
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 21, 2024
Quincy Wilson aims to be side-by-side with Lyles this summer. This year, Wilson also attained the fastest American time in the 400m event at the Florida Relays, clocking in at 45.19 seconds. Impressively, this timing is better than Lyles’ best performance at the same event in 2016, when the then 18-year-old Lyles finished the race in 47.04 seconds.
With this win, Wilson surpassed the U18 mark of 44.84, which was last accomplished by Justin Robinson in 2019. Not only this, but Wilson also broke Darrell Robinson’s national high school record of 44.69, which was set in 1982.
Talking about the world record, Wilson said that, “I’ve been looking at that all season. I’ve always dreamed for this moment so I told myself I was going to come out here for a big moment and get ready.”
His win also means he will be in the men’s 400 semi finals on Sunday, and a win there will take him a step closer to Paris Olympics. The top three finishers in Monday’s final will make it to the Games. Even though the field is tough, Wilson sounds determined.
He added, “I know that my training, my coaching, everybody has me in the right position so I’m just coming out here and executing every race I can.”
Bigger tests lie ahead for Wilson. He will be up against more accomplished athletes and will have to prove he can handle the rigors of a meet with multiple rounds, with no less than an Olympic berth at stake. Wilson’s attitude gives an indication of how he is going to approach Sunday. “It’s only the first round. I hope there’s more of that record to break,” he said.
Wilson is keen to continue his streak of breaking records that began in 2022.
Don’t blink, or you’ll miss Quincy Wilson’s lightning speed
By the time he turned 14, Wilson had already made a name for himself as a standout athlete on the track. Winning his AAU Junior Olympic Games title in the 400m event, he not only emerged victorious but also set a new national record for under-14 athletes, crossing the finish line in an impressive 47.59 seconds. His talent continued to impress when he broke the 500m world record for his age group at the VA Showcase in January 2024, finishing with a time of 1:01.27.
Quincy Wilson’s talent isn’t limited to the 400m; he has also impressed with his performance in the 200m. Earlier this month, he excelled in the 800m race, showcasing his abilities with a time of 1:50.44 at a competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
His impressive time of 45.19 seconds in the 400m back in March was the fastest in the U.S. for that year, earning him a spot in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials held in Eugene, Oregon. His skills have caught the eye of sponsors as well, with NIL deals pouring in. There’s no simple way to describe his talent, but if you blink, you might miss Quincy Wilson sprinting ahead on the track.
