EUGENE, Ore. — By next week, Quincy Wilson, the 16-year-old track phenom who made his presence felt at this year’s U.S. Olympic Trials, will know his summer vacation plans.
He’ll either join other Washington D.C. teenagers in enrolling in a three-week driver’s education course to begin earning his license, or he’ll fly to Paris to become the youngest American male runner to appear at the Olympic Games.
Naturally, he’d prefer the latter, putting his driving dreams on pause a while longer.
For now, all he can do is wait as his summer fate is determined. A selection committee’s forthcoming decision regarding relay teams is the only way Wilson can qualify for Paris. His blazing 44.94-second men’s 400-meter final on Monday secured a sixth-place finish — three places short of qualifying for the Olympics.
Whether his Olympic hopes come to fruition or not, the past few days in Eugene have been a memorable whirlwind for Wilson.
When he arrived at Hayward Field on June 21, the track diehards in the stands were the main ones applauding his introduction. By the end of the week, the entire stadium was doing it, adorning him with the kinds of raucous recognition that proved he had reached a rockstar-like status.