The track and field team at Bullis High School in Potomac, Maryland, is known for producing high-quality athletes such as Masai Russell and Quincy Wilson, both of whom recently qualified for the 2024 Olympics.聽
Russell, who graduated from Bullis in 2018 and the University of Kentucky in 2022, will represent the United States in the women鈥檚 100-meter hurdles as the top qualifier with a time of 12.25. Wilson, a rising high school junior, will run in the men’s 4×400-meter relay.聽
鈥淚 have so many emotions because this has been the hardest season of my life. People were doubting me. Talking about ever since I signed with Nike I鈥檝e been trash,鈥 Russell told NBC reporters after her race.
At the University of Kentucky, Russell became the U.S NCAA record holder in the 100m hurdles and yesterday she again made history as one of 10 women to break 12.30 seconds in the event.
鈥淚 just stayed true to myself, my work and my craft and this is all God,鈥 the 2018 Bullis graduate shared publicly after running the fastest time in the world this year and breaking the U.S. trials record.
Wilson remains on the track team at Bullis training under Coach Joe Lee with an expected graduation date of 2026. His performance at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon was extraordinary as he broke the under-18 world record three times in a row for the 400-meter dash, with his best time clocking a blazing 44.59 seconds running across the finish line in a uniform touting the Maryland state flag.
“I’ve been looking at it all season,” Wilson said. “I’ve been consistent at 45.1 throughout the whole season. So when I come to the big meets, I usually drop a second or a half a second, and I did just that in the prelim.”
Olympic sprinter Noah Lyles, rapper Snoop Dogg, Deion Sanders, Magic Johnson and others all reached out to cheer him on throughout the qualifying races.
鈥淚’ve never been this happy a day in my life when it came to track. I’ve been working for this moment,” Wilson told ESPN. “That record that I broke two days ago, that’s 42 years, 42 years of nobody being able to break that record, and I broke it twice in [three] days.
His coach said his discipline should serve as an example to people in every field.
鈥淚 hope the world is watching what character looks like and what resilience in the face of adversity [looks like]. It’s a great story that we can all smile about and we got the memory of,鈥 Lee shared.
Bullis Head of School Chris Sullivan also echoed testaments to his personality on and off the track.
鈥淗is poise, sportsmanship, and ability to perform under pressure reflect who he is at Bullis every day. In addition to being a phenomenal athlete, he is a consummate scholar who encourages all his classmates to strive to be their best,鈥 said Sullivan. 鈥淲e see big things in every aspect of Quincy鈥檚 future, and we鈥檙e beyond proud to see him represent our country in Paris.鈥