Allie Wilson already was the most decorated track & field athlete in Monmouth University history. Now she is the program’s first Olympian.
The 2019 grad qualified for the Paris Olympic Games in the women’s 800 after placing second at the U.S. Trials Monday with a time of 1:58.32 at Hayward Field in Oregon. In an 800 final marred by the fall of defending Olympic champion and Trenton native Athing Mu, Wilson rallied from fourth place over the final 200 meters, crossing the line well under the Olympic qualifying standard of 1:59.30. Nia Akins, who finished sixth at last year’s World Championships, won the race in 1:57.36.
This was a passing of the torch in the event as two-time Olympian and Neptune native Ajee’ Wilson, the former American record-holder, did not get past the semifinal, 2021 Olympian Raevyn Rogers took seventh and Mu limped home ninth.
“Nia paved the way for a lot of us last year, proving that you could step up at this level and really do big things,” Wilson said of the next generation of two-lappers. “To make the team with her is so amazing. I’m honored.”