US sprinting phenom Wilson makes case for Paris relay spot / Photo: Patrick Smith - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
US sprinting phenom Wilson makes case for Paris relay spot
Quincy Wilson, the 16-year-old sensation who is headed to the Olympics as part of the US 4X400m relay pool made his case to compete in Paris with a sizzling 44.20sec at a meet in Gainesville, Florida, on Friday.
Wilson broke the under-18 world record, taking control before the final straight and holding off reigning Olympic 4x400m relay gold medallist Bryce Deadmon -- who finished second in 44.23.
It was another impressive performance from Wilson, who finished sixth in the 400m final at the US Olympic athletics trials to earn a chance at a Paris relay berth.
If put on the relay, he could become the youngest US male athletics competitor to appear at an Olympics, surpassing Jim Ryun who was 17 when he ran in Tokyo in 1964.
In other events in the Holloway Pro Classic, part of the American Track League series, 2023 world championships silver medallist Erriyon Knighton tuned up for the Olympics with a 200m victory in 19.92sec.
Liberia's Emmanuel Matadi won the 100m in a career best 9.91sec while Nigeria's won both the women's 100m and 200m.
- Christian Taylor's farewell -
The night saw triple jump great Christian Taylor, Olympic gold medallist in 2012 and 2016 and a four-time World Champion, say farewell, having announced the meeting would be his last.
Taylor went out to a massive ovation at the University of Florida stadium, where he was a student and is now considered a legend.
In the women's 800m, reigning Olympic champion Athing Mu missed out in the event won by Kenyan Dorcus Ewoi in 1min 58.19sec.
It was more disappointment for Mu, who fell at the US trials last month and lost a chance to defend the gold she won in Tokyo.
F.McKenzie--EWJ
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