Teen sensation Quincy Wilson, 16, qualifies for 400m final with fastest high school times ever

At just 16 years old, Quincy Wilson became one of the most compelling stories in the U.S. Olympic track trials, advancing to the 400-meter final with the fastest teenage times in American history.

A child with a real chance of flying to Paris for the Summer Olympics wouldn't even be able to drive to the airport.

Wilson's weekend began with a time of 44.66 in the first round on Friday, which broke Darrell Robinson's 42-year-old national record of 44.69.

Wilson then doubled his record weekend, lowering his own record Sunday night to 44.59 in the semifinals to finish third in his heat and qualify in time for Monday's final.

Quincy Wilson, 16, with a tremendous effort in the 400m semi-final! He is officially QUALIFIED for the final. #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/nL4Nj8m5BT

– NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 24, 2024

“I have never been happier in my life when it comes to track. I have been working since then. That record that I broke two days ago… it’s been 42 years since anyone has been able to break that record,” Wilson said. “And I broke it twice in two days.” This means a lot to me because I know my hard work is paying off.

The high school sophomore will face competitors Monday who are mostly more than a decade older. The finals field includes Michael Norman, who won the 2022 world title in the 400m and won a 2020 Olympic gold medal in the 4×400.

Norman easily qualified for the final, winning his heat in 45.30, while Quincy Hall had the best time in the semifinals in 44.42.

“YOU ARE THERE.”

Watch the moment 16-year-old Quincy Wilson and his coach realized he was heading into the 400m final at #TrackFieldTrials24. pic.twitter.com/7UYCrDrkvN

– NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 24, 2024

After his dominance Friday night, Wilson said his recent success has led him to focus on athletic achievements far greater than what high school competition can offer.

“When I come to the big competitions, I usually lose a second or half a second,” Wilson said. “I don’t run in high school anymore, I run with the big dogs. I just had to come out here and give it my all.

Wilson, who attends Bullis High School in Potomac, Maryland, had already set the under-18 indoor 400-meter world record in March, clocking 45.76, a time that would have placed him fourth in the world at the 2024 World Indoor Championships.

In 2022, Wilson broke the national under-14 record in the 400m, finishing the year with a time of 47.77 before even entering high school.

“As soon as I came off the track, my coach told me he was extremely proud of me. He was telling me the things we needed to do to stop the race. He's not caught up in the moment, and with that on my side, I think I have great things for tomorrow. I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Wilson said on Sunday.

“I’m participating in the biggest final in the world tomorrow. At 16, I'm like ecstatic right now.

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(Photo: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA Today)