Chesapeake native Quincy Wilson is set to make Olympics history on Friday.
The 16-year-old will be part of the U.S. men’s 4×400-meter relay team that begins competition at 5:05 a.m., according to ESPN and Yahoo Sports. He will become the youngest American male to compete in an Olympic track and field event.
“Tune in Friday Morning @ 5:05 a.m. est,” Wilson posted on Instagram.
Wilson was born in Chesapeake and attended Great Bridge Middle School, but now lives in Bowie, Maryland. He went to Bullis School in Potomac, which has a powerhouse high school track program.
Wilson wasn’t chosen to compete for the U.S. in the 4×400 mixed relay last week. The Americans won the silver medal in the event Saturday.
According to Yahoo, Wilson will run the lead leg of the 4×400 relay on Friday.
Wilson posted three straight times under 45 seconds in the 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He didn’t qualify for the individual event, but he did earn a spot in the pool for the men’s 4×400 relay and mixed 4×400 relay.
According to Olympic historian Bill Mallon, the youngest U.S. male in Olympic track was Arthur Newton, who ran the steeplechase in 1904 at age 17. Jim Ryun was 17 when he qualified for his first Olympics in 1964, and Erriyon Knighton was 17 when he made it to Tokyo three years ago.
