16-year-old Jake Odey-Jordan experienced a befuddling moment in the U18 European Athletics Championships as he stopped sprinting during the race.
The 200-meter race in the U18 European Athletics Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, was British runner’s Jake Odey-Jordan’s to lose. With a massive lead, the question was less about whether he’d win and more about his time and who would finish second.
Then, suddenly, the 16-year-old stopped sprinting. Apparently, with the assumption that either the finish line was closer than it was or he was further ahead than he was, Odey-Jordan eased up and looked around. He watched three other runners zoom past him, and a fourth nearly do the same.
It was a lesson to learn at the worst possible time, as Odey-Jordan unimaginably found himself missing the qualification mark.
He finished fourth, according to outlets including Sky News. In an interview, the runner said, “It is my fault, so I cannot be sad about anything but myself,” according to the outlet.
Odey-Jordan needed to finish in the top three to qualify for the next round. Instead, he’ll leave wondering what could have been and knowing that in the future, one must finish the race strong.
Quincy Wilson set a new record with a 44.20-second run at the Holloway Pro Classic, prompting Michael Johnson to compliment his skill.
If anybody in the world knows talent in the 400-meter races, it’s Michael Johnson, a four-time gold medalist at the Olympics and an eight-time winner of the World Championships gold medal. After the latest record set by teenager Quincy Wilson, Johnson has seen enough.
“I haven’t commented on this kid. Because typically it leads to predictions of his future, and people don’t understand it’s more complex than simply ‘so fast so young = really fast older,'” Johnson posted onto social media platform X. “It’s not that simple.”
That was until Friday when Wilson set a U18 400-meter world record with a 44.20 run at the Holloway Pro Classic in Florida.
“But now I must speak,” Johnson continued in the same post. “GOD DAMN!!! This kid is impressive!”
See his quote-tweet of the race here:
Okay, I haven’t commented on this kid. Because typically it leads to predictions of his future, and people don’t understand it’s more complex than simply “so fast so young=really fast older”it’s not that simple. But now I must speak. GOD DAMN!!! This kid is impressive! https://t.co/JK0Y9GuxTb
Wilson has been well-regarded in track and field for some time but proved his potential this year after starting with a personal best of 45.87, according to LetsRun.com. He has now set a new personal record seven times this year, including twice in the Olympic qualifiers. While he did not qualify for an individual race, Wilson is part of the men’s relay pool.
With his performances, the 16-year-old has captured the attention of legends. This time, it’s Johnson, who became the only male to win gold in both the 200- and 400-meter races in the same Olympics when he blistered the field in the 1996 Atlanta Games and then defended his 400-meter championship in the 2000 Sydney Games.
The world will be watching as the 2024 Paris Olympics begin with the youngest-ever U.S. male track Olympian serving as one of the six runners in the pool for the 4×400 team.
He isn’t eligible in his home state of Maryland for his full driver’s license yet, but Wilson is nonetheless part of the pool for the United States’ 4x400m relay team. A tremendous weekend at the United States Olympic Track and Field finals has propelled Wilson into the Paris games.
Wilson, who set the U18 United States record in the 400m over the weekend, was notified on Sunday that he is part of the relay pool. In Sunday’s finals, Wilson ran an impressive 44.94 that saw the teenager finish sixth.
His 44.59 time on Saturday in the 400m set the U18 400m national record.
A fantastic finish for the Creekside High School star.
Christian Miller took home the Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Player of the Year honor this week, a fantastic finish for the record-setting sprinter.
The Sunshine State standout was surprised with the prominent award surrounded by his family, coaches, and teammates at Creekside High School (St. Johns, Fla.).
Another track sensation to join the list of past winners—who boast a combined trophy case of more than 19 gold medals and 14 national championships—Miller was certainly worthy of the iconic hardware, which more than half a million other student-athletes were in the running for.
The men’s 100m at the Trials today is heating up…
Courtney Lindsey goes 9.88 Fred Kerley goes 9.89 High schoolers Christian Miller runs 9.94 ⤵️
“Christian Miller officially broke the national high school record at 100 meters this spring, but it certainly appears there’s more left in the tank based upon his performances at the Olympic Trials,” noted Rich Gonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack.com., in a statement. “The rhythmic power he harnesses is extremely unique for a teenage sprinter. His skill set is beginning to remind folks of a one-time prep prodigy named Noah Lyles—yes, the same Noah Lyles that has since won six world championship medals. Miller’s career is going places and he’s getting there faster than any before him.”
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Miller’s achievements of the track carried just as much weight as his impressive Gold medal-worthy accolades on it, with the Georgia Bulldogs commit turrning the spotlight on his work volunteering for the River Rock Church community and coaching youth club teams.
Most impressive?
He maintained a B average in the classroom while doing all of it, from setting world records on the track to helping coach younger athletes on the St. John’s Striders track team.
“Gatorade Players of the Year are not only world-class athletes, but they’re also motivated to succeed in the classroom and be leaders in their communities,” said Gatorade president and general manager Michael Del Pozzo, of Miller’s overall resume. ”Christian embodies all those qualities tenfold, and we’re proud to welcome him into the Gatorade Player of the Year family.”
Quincy Wilson broke the 45-second mark again in the 400m but finished six in the finals, falling just shy of qualifying for the Olympics.
Sixteen-year-old track and field star Quincy Wilson beat the 45-second mark in the 400-meter race for the third run in a row during these Olympic Trials, but his time of 44.94 wasn’t quite fast enough to etch himself in the history books by qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Wilson finished in sixth place, ending a run in which he wowed the world by breaking a 42-year-old record twice.
“I can’t go back and be disappointed. At the end of the day, I’m 16 running grown-man times,” he said to reporters after the race.
Wilson, an incoming junior at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, ran times of 44.84 and 44.59 in the preliminary round and semifinals prior to the run on Monday evening.
🗣️ “I can’t be disappointed. I’m 16 years old running…grown man times.”
Quincy Wilson still in high spirits after finishing 6th at the U.S. Olympic Trials 400m final. Could get the call for the 4x400m relay pool. pic.twitter.com/Qh2Nwsm2B1
Quincy Hall, 25, won the 400m with a time of 44.17 seconds. Michael Norman, 26, placed second at 44.41 seconds and Chris Bailey, 24, finished third at 44.42 seconds, according to the Register Guard.
Despite falling shy in the 400m, Wilson still has a chance to become the youngest American man ever to compete in a track and field event in the Olympics. USA Track & Field can choose two more runners for the 4×400 relay team, according to the Washington Post, and with his performances both in the Trials and runs at his high school, Wilson has proven his talent.
The current mark has been in place for 124 years, when, in 1900, 17-year-and-166-day athlete Arthur Newton ran the 2,500-meter steeplechase, per the WaPo.
Two days after breaking the world U18 and American high school records in the 400m in the Olympic Trials, Quincy Wilson broke both records again.
On Friday, Quincy Wilson announced he’s racing with the “big dogs” after breaking the world U18 and American high school records in the 400-meter dash in the Olympic Trials.
On Sunday, the 16-year-old broke his own record.
Wilson, competing in the semifinals, ran a 44.59 in the 400m, eclipsing his previous mark of 44.84 seconds. In doing so, he qualified for the finals in Eugene, Oregon, and is now one race away from reaching the Olympics before he reaches his junior year of high school.
The Bullis School (Potomac, Md.) star finished third in the semifinal race, putting on a burst at the end to do so. His finish helped him secure a spot in the finals.
16 YEAR OLD Quincy Wilson just broke his own U18 World Record and High School record in the 400m with a 44.59. WHAT??!?! 2 World Records by Quincy in 2 days.
If Wilson can reach the Paris Olympics, he’ll be an Olympian before getting his driver’s license. He told reporters that he recently turned 16 and, because he needs to take a three-week class to learn to drive, joked that he wouldn’t be able to complete it any time if he qualifies for the Games.
The men’s 400-meter final is scheduled for Monday at 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time and will be aired on NBC.
“I don’t I’m gonna get my driver’s license at this point.” – 16-year-old Quincy Wilson after his 44.59 to advance to the U.S. Olympic Trials 400m final 😂 pic.twitter.com/0wNx60GHwR
Quincy Wilson, a 16-year-old Maryland high school track phenom, set an 18U world record and American high school record in the 400m at the Olympic Trials.
After putting the high school track and field scene on notice as a freshman and sophomore as he thundered to first-place finishes in dozens of events, Quincy Wilson set his sights on the Olympics.
The 16-year-old has a legitimate chance to reach Paris after his 400-meter dash at the Olympic Trials on Friday.
Wilson, entering his junior year at Bullis High School (Potomac, Md.), set world U18 and American high school records in the trials in Eugene, Oregon, running his 400-meter heat in 44.66 seconds.
He broke the world record of 44.84 seconds that had been set five years ago and a U.S. high school record that had stood for 42 years by 0.03 seconds, according to the Washington Post. In clearing the 45-second mark, he set a new standard for himself.
“It’s a different game,” Wilson said to reporters. “I’m not running high school anymore. I’m running with the big dogs.”
🗣️ “I’m not running high school anymore. I’m running with the big dogs.”
Quincy Wilson after breaking the U.S. high school record in the 400m + the U18 WORLD RECORD
Wilson has dominated at the high school level with highlights including nearly breaking the 45-second mark in the 4x400m as a freshman, winning the New Balance Nationals in both indoor and outdoor in the 400m and 4×400 as a sophomore, and taking first place in the East Coast Elite – Meet of Champions and Distance Carnival @ Stevenson University in both the 100- and 200-meters.
The Washington Post asked him to rank his nerves on a scale of one to 10.
“Probably like a 2,” Wilson said. “I’m racing against bigger people that got brands and things like that. To me, everybody puts their spikes on the same way I do. I train just as hard as they do. It’s just the best of the best going at each other.”
The top boys track performers from across the country have been unveiled, with these 50 athletes receiving a nod on the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards watchlist.
There’s still plenty of time to send in suggestions ahead of the big event in August, when the Players of the Year will be announced — names can be submitted to both roleary@usatventures.com and BFontana@usatventures.com.
Noah Valyo — SR, Distance | Athens Drive Magnet School | Raleigh, North Carolina
Jordan Washington — SR, Sprints | Jordan High School | Long Beach, California
Anthony Waterman — SR, Hurdles | DeMatha Catholic High School | Hyattsville, Maryland
Jelani Watkins — SR, Sprints | Klein Forest High School | Klein Forest, Texas
Dyson Wicker — SR, Sprints | Rockwall-Heath High School | Heath, Texas
Dai’Vontay Young — SR, Hurdles | Dunbar High School | Dayton, Ohio
Drew Zundell — SR, Distance | University High School | Morgantown, West Virginia
From the HSSA
Nominees for both the regional and national programs are posted as they are selected. Regional nominees represent the best in their respective areas, while national nominees are recognized as the top high school athletes nationwide.
Sign up for email updates for your region or nationally to keep up with nominee selections, the awards programs and special announcements.
Brody Burch, two-sport athlete at Pocatello (Idaho) wins multiple state championships on the same day.
Brody Burch plays pitcher and runs track and field for Pocatello High School, a small school in Idaho with a little over 1,200 students. This past weekend Burch put all other amateur athletes to shame, accomplishing a remarkable feat by winning two separate state championships on the same day, according to an account by Grayson Weir at Outkick.
On Saturday afternoon, Burch got started by winning the 5A/4A state track meet 800-meter dash in Meridian. While that was happening, Pocatello’s baseball team was 137 miles away in Twin Falls for the 4A State Championship.
After the race ended, Burch’s family drove him to the Boise airport and took a private jet to Twin Falls. Burch arrived in time for the fourth inning and was brought in as a reliever. He struck out four batters in three innings, closing out the win and the state championship for Pocatello baseball.
Quincy Wilson, still 15 years old, nearly broke the 45-second mark in his split of the 4×400 at The Penn Relays in April.
Quincy Wilson rose to prominence on the running scene as a 12-year-old due to his Adidas Track Indoor Nationals performance. Now a freshman, Wilson has only gotten better with age — and it’s still a remarkably young age for the feats he has been producing.
At the Penn Relays on April 27, Wilson ran his split of the 4×400 preliminaries at 45.06, anchoring the Bullis School (Potomac, Md.) boys team to the fastest time of the day at 3:14.12 and helping them advance to the finals. MileSplit estimated that Wilson made up 10-15 meters in his run as the anchor.
Wilson, still just 15 years old, put up one of the fast times in meet history, according to MileSplit. The meet record for a split is 44.8 seconds.
4️⃣5️⃣.0️⃣6️⃣
Freshman Quincy Wilson with an unreal split in the 4x400m for Bullis School
Wilson has had a stellar year, setting freshman records in multiple events. His indoor 400-meter time of 47.30 in February set a national freshman record — and it only lasted a month because he broke it again with a time of 46.67 in his New Balance indoor nationals victory in March. The previous record was 47.97, according to RunnerSpace.
RunnerSpace also wrote that Wilson set indoor class records in the 300m (34.11), 500m (1:02.63) and 600m (1:17.80).
Blossoming into an elite high school runner regardless of age, Wilson still has three more years to make his mark at this level.
