Ajeé Wilson (/ˈɑː/ AH-jay; born May 8, 1994) is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 meters.[1] She is the 2022 World indoor champion at the 800 meter distance, after earning silver medals in 2016 and 2018. Wilson won bronze medals at both the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships. She is the second-fastest American of all time in the event with a time of 1m 55.61s, and she holds North American indoor record.

Ajeé Wilson
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1994-05-08) May 8, 1994 (age 30)
Neptune, New Jersey U.S.
Home townNeptune, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationTemple University
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight135 lb (61 kg)
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event800 metres
ClubJuventus Track Club
Achievements and titles
World finals
  • 2013
  • 800 m, 5th
  • 2017
  • 800 m,  Bronze
  • 2019
  • 800 m,  Bronze
  • 2022
  • 800 m, 8th
Personal bests

Wilson won titles in the 800 m at both the 2011 World Youth Championships and 2012 World Junior Championships. Her winning time of 2:00.91 at the latter is the third-fastest time run by a high schooler behind Mary Cain and Kim Gallagher.[2]

Personal life

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Wilson attended Academy of Allied Health & Science in Neptune Township, New Jersey, until 2012.[3] She originally committed to attend Florida State University,[4] before deciding to turn professional. She graduated from Temple University in 2016,[5] but trains with her coach Derek Thompson and the Juventus Track Club of Philadelphia.[6]

Career

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2013

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In 2012, she committed to run for the Florida State Seminoles under Karen Harvey, but days before the fall semester, she decided to focus on a pro career and return to her coach Derek Thompson at Temple University. The decision paid off at the IAAF Moscow 2013 World Championships where she ran the quickest junior 800m of 1:58.21 – a North American and USA junior record – to place fifth.[7]

2014

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Wilson won her Second U.S. Senior Indoor 800-meter title at the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2:00.43.[8] Wilson won her first U.S. Senior Outdoor 800-meter title at the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California, in 1:58.70.[9] On July 18, Wilson ran a world leading mark of 1:57.67[10] to win the Diamond League Herculis Monaco.

2015

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Wilson won the Armory Invitational in 2:01.7 on January 31 in New York City.

At the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon Wilson placed 3rd in the 800m in 2:00.05 despite losing a shoe in the last 200 meters. She qualified to represent the U.S. for the 800m in the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China but did not compete due to injury.

2017

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Wilson won the New York Road Runners Armory Invitational in New York City 600m in 1:24.28, the fourth-fastest time in history and the second-fastest by an American behind only Alysia Montaño‘s U.S. national record of 1:23.59 set on this same Armory oval in 2013.

At the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Wilson placed 1st in the 800 meters in 1:57.78, to represent the U.S. for the 800m in the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London.[11]

On July 21, 2017, Wilson ran 1:55.61 at the Diamond League event in Monaco to break the U.S. record by nearly 1 second. This time ranks Wilson at number 20 on the IAAF all-time list.[12]

 
Wilson at the 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships

2018

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Wilson won silver medal in World Indoor Championships at 800 m.

Wilson was part of the Team USA squad setting a world indoor record in the 4 × 800 m relay on February 3 at the 2018 Millrose Games in 8:05.89 – a squad that featured Chrishuna Williams (2:05.10), Raevyn Rogers (2:00.45), Charlene Lipsey (2:01.98), Ajeé Wilson (1:58.37).[13][14]

Wilson won 800 m gold at 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2:01.60,[15] and USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1:58.18.

Wilson won 800 m gold at 2018 NACAC Championships in Toronto, Canada, in a championship record and stadium record 1:57.52.[16]

2019

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Wilson won in 1:58.60 at 2019 Millrose Games to set the U.S. Indoor Track and Field 800 m record & NACAC 800 m record.

On July 28, at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Wilson placed 1st in the 800 meters in 1:57.72, to represent the U.S. for the 800m in the 2019 World Championships in Athletics in Doha, Qatar.[17]

Achievements

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Major competition record

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Representing the   United States
Year Competition Venue Position Event Result
2010 World Junior Championships Moncton, Canada 5th 800 m 2:04.18
2011 World Youth Championships Lille, France 1st 800 m 2:02.64
2012 World Junior Championships Barcelona, Spain 1st 800 m 2:00.91
2013 World Championships Moscow, Russia 5th 800 m 1:58.21
2014 World Indoor Championship Sopot, Poland 10th (h) 800 m i 2:02.90
World Relay Championships Nassau, Bahamas 1st 4 × 800 m relay 8:01.58
2015 World Relay Championships Nassau, Bahamas 1st Distance medley relay 10:36.50 (WR)
2016 World Indoor Championship Portland, United States 2nd 800 m i 2:00.27
Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 12th (sf) 800 m 1:59.75
2017 Monaco Herculis Fontvieille, Monaco 3rd 800 m 1:55.61 (PB)
World Championships London, United Kingdom 3rd 800 m 1:56.65
2018 World Indoor Championship Birmingham, United Kingdom 2nd 800 m i 1:58.99
Prefontaine Classic Eugene, Oregon 2nd 800 m 1:56.86
NACAC Championships Toronto, Canada 1st 800 m 1:57.52 (CR)
Weltklasse Zürich Zürich, Switzerland 2nd 800 m 1:57.86
2019 Prefontaine Classic Palo Alto, California 2nd 800 m 1:58.36
World Championships Doha, Qatar 3rd 800 m 1:58.84
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 16th (sf) 800 m 2:00.79
Prefontaine Classic Eugene, Oregon 7th 800 m 2:00.21
2022 World Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia 1st 800 m i 1:59.09 SB
World Championships Eugene, United States 8th 800 m 2:00.19
NACAC Championships Freeport, Bahamas 1st 800 m 1:58.47

Circuit wins

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National Championships

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Result
2007 AAU Junior Olympic Games Knoxville, Tennessee 1st Sub-Youth 3000m 10:13.41 CR[19]
2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games Detroit, Michigan 6th Youth 3000m 11:04.98[20]
1st Youth 1500m 4:43.53[21]
1st Youth 800m 2:17.00[22]
2009 AAU Junior Olympic Games Des Moines, Iowa 6th Intermediate 400m 56.21[23]
2010 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 1st 800m 2:05.75[24]
2011 2011 United States World Youth Trials (track and field) Eugene, Oregon 1st 800m 2:09.39[25]
2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 14th 800m 2:04.96[26]
USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships Bloomington, Indiana 1st 800m 2:04.86[27]
2013 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 800m 2:02.64[28]
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 3rd 800m 1:59.55[29]
2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 800m 2:00.43[30]
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 1st 800m 1:58.70[31]
2015 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Boston, Massachusetts 6th 600m 1:39.39[32]
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 3rd 800m 2:00.05[33]
2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Portland, Oregon 1st 800 m 2:00.87
U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 2nd 800 m 1:59.51
2017 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 600 m 1:23.84CR[34]
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 1st 800m 1:57.78[35]
2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 800 m 2:01.60[36]
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 1st 800m 1:58.18[37]
2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Staten Island, New York City 1st 1000 m 2:34.71
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Des Moines, Iowa 1st 800m 1:57.72
2020 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 800m 2:01.98
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 3rd 800 m 1:58.39
2022 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Spokane, Washington 1st 800m 2:01.72
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 2nd 800m 1:57.23

Personal bests

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Event Time Location Date
Indoor 400m 59.55 Toms River, USA December 28, 2011
500m 1:09.63 Staten Island, USA January 14, 2017
600m 1:23.84 Albuquerque, USA March 5, 2017
800m 1:58.29 AR New York, USA February 8, 2020
1000m 2:34.71 New York, USA February 24, 2019
Mile 4:36.84 Staten Island, New York, USA January 13, 2018
4 × 800 m 8:05.89 WR New York City, USA February 3, 2018
Outdoor 400m 53.63 Chester, USA April 19, 2014
600m 1:22.39 ABP Berlin, Germany August 27, 2017
800m 1:55.61 Fontvieille, Monaco July 21, 2017
1000m 2:44.05 Brussels, Belgium September 6, 2013
1500m 4:05.18 Swarthmore, USA May 14, 2018
Mile 4:33.57 South Huntington, USA August 31, 2016
4 × 800 m 8:01.58 Nassau, Bahamas May 25, 2014
DMR 10:36.50 WR Nassau, Bahamas May 2, 2015

References

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  1. ^ "Ajee Wilson". Team USA. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Jim Lambert (July 12, 2012). "Ajee' Wilson of Neptune wins World Junior Championship 800 title in US No. 2 all-time 2:00.91". NJ.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  3. ^ Barker, Sarah. "America's 800-Meter Savior Has Finally Arrived" Archived July 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, 'Deadspin, June 12, 2015. Accessed July 6, 2016. "Wilson proved a stalwart point-earner for her high school track team, the imaginatively named Academy of Allied Health and Science, regularly competing in the 400, 800, 1600, 4x400 and often the sprint and distance medley relays, in both indoor and outdoor seasons."
  4. ^ Steve Hockstein. "Neptune's Ajee' Wilson ends the suspense, will head to Florida State to continue track career". NJ.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "USA Track & Field – Ajeé Wilson". Usatf.org. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "USA Track & Field – Athlete Spotlight: Ajeé Wilson". Usatf.org. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Why Ajeé Wilson is a winner | Spikes powered by IAAF". Spikes.iaaf.org. July 7, 2014. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  8. ^ [1][dead link]
  9. ^ [2][dead link]
  10. ^ [3][dead link]
  11. ^ 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships USATF June 27, 2017
  12. ^ "Ajee Wilson Smashes the American 800 Meter Record, Runs 1:55.61 in Monaco". July 21, 2017.
  13. ^ "American Relay Sets Indoor World Record at the Millrose Games". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  14. ^ "American women set 4x800 world record at Millrose Games". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  15. ^ "2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Results". Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  16. ^ "2018 NACAC Championships – 8/10/2018 to 8/12/2018 Track & Field in the 6IX #TF6IX Varsity Stadium – Toronto". Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  17. ^ Episode 9 - American Record Holder - 12X US Champion - World Indoor Gold Medalist Ajee’ Wilson RealTalk Track & Field with Tiara Williams
  18. ^ "IAAF Diamond League Final – Diamond League Champions – 5th – 6th September 2019" (PDF). Diamond League. September 6, 2019. p. 3. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  19. ^ 2007 AAU Junior Olympic Games Saturday - Day 8 Girls Results hosted by Knoxville Youth Athletics Jul 28, 2007 Aug 4, 2007 University of Tennessee, Tom Black Track MileSplit.com
  20. ^ 2008 AAU JO Games - Saturday, July 26, 2008 Detroit, Michigan 3000 m Youth Girls Results athletic.net
  21. ^ 2008 AAU JO Games - Saturday, July 26, 2008 Detroit, Michigan 1500 m Youth Girls Results athletic.net
  22. ^ 2008 AAU JO Games - Saturday, July 26, 2008 Detroit, Michigan 800 m Youth Girls Results athletic.net
  23. ^ 2009 AAU JO Games - 8/1/2009 to 8/8/2009 Drake University Des Moines, Iowa Results MileSplit.com
  24. ^ 2010 USA Outdoor Junior Track and Field Championships results Archived December 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  25. ^ 2012 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships results. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  26. ^ 2012 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships results Archived December 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  27. ^ 2013 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships results Archived December 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  28. ^ 2013 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships results. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  29. ^ 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships results Archived October 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  30. ^ 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  31. ^ 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results Archived August 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  32. ^ "2015 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships 600 meters". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  33. ^ 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships results Archived October 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on October 22, 2015
  34. ^ 2017 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Results Archived October 19, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on September 11, 2017
  35. ^ 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results Archived December 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on June 27, 2017
  36. ^ 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Results Archived December 19, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on June 28, 2018
  37. ^ 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results Archived December 19, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on June 28, 2018
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Awards
Preceded by USA Track & Field Youth Athlete of the Year
2011
Succeeded by