“Everything you’ve been through, everything you’ve fought through, you deserve this for you. You don’t do it for me, you don’t do it for anybody else, it’s yours. You do it for you.” That was Coach Joe Lee’s message to his Olympic gold medalist, Quincy Wilson. As the 17-year-old prepared for his debut at the USATF Nationals, his coach made one thing clear: there was no pressure, no expectations—just the opportunity to run for himself. A year ago, Quincy turned heads at the U.S. Olympic Trials, earning a spot on the 4x400m relay team and eventually capturing Olympic gold in Paris. So, he has his place settled. Still, this season, something felt different.
Last year, Quincy made it to the men’s 400m final at the US Track and Field Olympic trials and impressed with a strong sixth-place finish, clocking 44.94 seconds. But over the past 13 months, a lot has changed. He’s shaved time off his performances in age-group 400m races, outpaced senior competitors at the Ed Murphey Classic, and successfully defended his 400m short track title at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. With such a rise in form, fans anticipated he’d breeze through the rounds at the USATF Nationals. But things didn’t go as expected.
On August 1, Quincy Wilson finished fourth in Heat 2 of the men’s 400m at the USATF Nationals—just missing out on a spot in the final. That also crushed any shot he had at making the team for the World Championships in Tokyo. It was a tough pill to swallow. But for track coach Rob, it wasn’t just disappointing—it was a bit worrying. Why? Well, Quincy had clocked 44.10 seconds at the Ed Murphey Classic. But at Nationals, under pressure, he couldn’t even dip under 44. Rob thinks that’s a red flag. Quincy isn’t a newbie anymore—he’s an Olympic gold medalist. So, what’s next? According to Rob, it’s time for some serious reflection and adjustments.
On his YouTube podcast, Coach Rob put it plainly: “He doesn’t have to win almost any high school race.” And honestly, that makes sense. Quincy ran five high school meets this outdoor season—all packed into a single month. That kind of schedule is no joke, and he gave it his all. But Rob’s real concern isn’t about the high school races only—it’s also about Quincy’s showing at the senior level.
There’s no steady rhythm in Quincy’s performances yet. Sure, the teenager’s working hard, but he hasn’t been able to turn that effort into times that stack up with the top guys. “He didn’t have to run his best race in the 400-meter semis,” Rob said, “he needed to run pretty close to it. And that’s not exactly what we got from Quincy.” So, what’s the next move? Maybe it’s time to think bigger—like locking in a pro contract and focusing fully on the elite stage.
Coach Rob made a solid point: if Quincy had already gone pro, he’d have a clearer idea of which races to target and how to structure his season. But right now, Quincy’s got his sights set on joining a college program. Rob gets it—he even said, “Obviously, that makes a whole bunch of sense.” But he also didn’t hold back, adding, “But it’s pretty clear he doesn’t need to run track in college.” Why? Because Quincy’s already putting down times that beat most college athletes in the 400m. And at the USATF Nationals, it wasn’t college runners who beat him—it was pros. So, Rob’s advice? Go to college, get the degree, enjoy the experience—but when it comes to running, Quincy should be lining up with the pros, not on the NCAA circuit. But what does Quincy think about all this?
Quincy Wilson has almost no option left
Since the start of this season, college programs have been lining up for Quincy Wilson. He’s already taken a few campus visits, and in July, University of Maryland President Darryll Pines even came to his home. A month earlier, Maryland track coaches Andrew Valmon, Danielle Siebert, and sprint legend Dezerea Bryant-Moore had also stopped by, hoping to bring him into their program. While Quincy hasn’t officially committed yet, it’s pretty clear he’s leaning toward joining a college team. Why?
April 24, 2025, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States: Olympic Gold Medalist QUINCY WILSON running the 4×400 relay on day one of the Penn Relays at the historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia PA Philadelphia United States – ZUMArf1_ 20250424_zaf_rf1_008 Copyright: xRickyxFitchettx
“My schoolwork,” Quincy explained. “I’m an A-average student, and my parents are not going to let me go out there like that.” Back in May 2024, when he received the Head of Upper School Award for outstanding achievement in both academics and athletics, his mom shared a heartfelt post on Instagram. “Today, Quincy received a distinguished award from his Upper School Head. As parents, we don’t [just] care how many races he’s won or records he’s broken on the track, hearing the head of school speak highly of Quincy made tears fall from our eyes. We’re incredibly proud of Quincy and the young man he’s becoming. Keep up the great work, Quincy.” Still, it’s not just about his parents’ expectations. Quincy himself understands what truly matters. “Don’t be in a hurry to grow up,” he often reminds himself. What’s next? Time will tell.
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