A 16-year-old was just fractions of a second shy of becoming youngest male U.S. track Olympian ever

A 16-year-old was just fractions of a second shy of becoming youngest male U.S. track Olympian ever
In an exhilarating display of speed and resilience, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson from Bullis School, just outside Washington D.C., came remarkably close to making history at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. Competing against seasoned athletes, Wilson finished sixth in the 400-meter final with an impressive time of 44.94 seconds, narrowly missing the chance to become the youngest male track Olympian in U.S. history.
The top spot in the event was claimed by Quincy Hall, who clocked in at 44.17 seconds. Michael Norman (44.41 seconds) and Chris Bailey (44.42 seconds) secured the other two places on the U.S. team headed to the Paris Olympics. Despite Wilson's sixth-place finish, his extraordinary performance has earned him a potential spot on the U.S. 4x400 relay team, keeping his Olympic dreams alive.
Wilson's journey to the finals was nothing short of spectacular. Over the weekend, he not only set but also shattered the world record for under-18 runners twice. The previous record had stood for an astonishing 42 years. Wilson first broke the record in the semifinals with a time of 44.59 seconds, a moment he described as the happiest of his life in track and field.
“I’ve never been this happy a day in my life when it comes to track,” Wilson said. “I’ve been working for this moment. That record I broke two days ago, that’s 42 years of nobody being able to break that record. I broke it twice in two days. It means a lot to me, because it means the hard work is paying off.”
Wilson's performance at the Trials has been met with admiration from his peers. Michael Norman, a seasoned competitor who finished fifth in the Tokyo Games and secured his spot for Paris, praised Wilson's maturity and competitive spirit.
“A 16-year-old is going out here competing like a true competitor,” Norman said. “He’s not letting the moment get too big. He’s living in the moment and competing, so it’s great to see young talents like himself elevate, push us to run a little bit faster and take us out of our comfort zone. He has a bright future in front of him as long as he stays grounded and focused.”
Standing at 5-feet-9 and weighing 140 pounds, Wilson faced a significant challenge in the semifinals. At the final turn, he was in fifth place, with considerable ground to cover. Demonstrating exceptional determination, Wilson surged ahead, ultimately finishing third in his heat.
“Stay calm,” he recounted telling himself during the race. “I didn’t get out the way that I wanted to, but like my coach said, the race starts at 300. Coming up from fifth to third, it means a lot. If you look at me, I’m not as strong, so it’s 100% heart inside.”
Wilson's remarkable weekend and his potential inclusion in the U.S. 4x400 relay team highlight his promising future in track and field. As he continues to develop his skills and gain experience, the young athlete from Bullis School is poised to become a significant force in the sport.

[@Monglia_Qasem]

thx for the news

[@ldambies]

not by a fraction of a second, come on guys....