EUGENE, Ore. — Quincy Wilson, the 16-year-old who has become a fan favorite in TrackTown, USA, finished sixth in the men’s 400-meter final on Monday night at Hayward Field, missing out on the 2024 Olympic Games.
Wilson was trying to become the youngest male to ever make the American Olympic track team.
Another Quincy, Quincy Hall, won the event, running a personal best 44.17. Michael Norman, the favorited, finished second at 44.41. Chris Bailey finished just a hair behind Norman, in a personal best 44.42.
A sprinting sensation from the from the D.C. area, Wilson broke the under-18 world record Friday in the first round of the 400, blazing around the track in 44.66. The high school record he broke had stood for 42 years.
Then he topped that time in the semifinals Sunday, running a 44.59 to qualify for the finals.
QUINCY WILSON: Meet the 16-year-old track phenom
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Despite running against competitors twice his age (and size) and not even having a driver’s license yet, Wilson has put the track world on notice. Norman called the teenager’s performance “spectacular” after the semifinals.
“A 16-year-old coming out here, competing like a true competitor, not letting the moment get too big but living in the moment,” Norman said about Wilson following Sunday’s semifinals. “It’s great to see young talents like him elevate and push us to run a little faster, and take us out of our comfort zone. I think he has a bright future.”
Wilson joked after the semis that he was “just running for my life out there,” adding that “the race plan went out the window (Monday).”
High school track phenoms are rare at the Olympic track and field trials, but not entirely unheard of: In 2016, 16-year-old Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone finished third in the 400 hurdles and qualified for the Rio Games, becoming the youngest athlete to make Team USA’s Olympic roster in 36 years. (McLaughlin-Levrone is favored to win the 400 hurdles later this week). McLaughlin-Levrone was the youngest athlete to make Team USA’s Olympic track roster in 36 years.
The last high schooler to make the men’s Olympic team was Erriyon Knighton, who ran the 200 at the Tokyo Games as a 17-year-old. He finished fourth there, but won bronze in the event at the 2022 World Championships.
Norman owns the fastest American time this year in the mens’ 400, running a 44.21 in May. Norman finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics behind American Michael Cherry, who took fourth.
Canada’s Christopher Morales-Williams has clocked the fastest 400 time in the world this year at 44.05.
Contributing: Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY
Email Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Quincy Wilson, 16-year-old track phenom, misses out on Olympic team
