Ajeé Wilson

Ajeé Wilson (/ˈɑːdʒeɪ/ 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

Wilson at the 2018 USA Outdoor Championships
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1994-05-08) May 8, 1994 (age 28) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S.
Home town	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Temple University
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	135 lb (61 kg)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	800 metres
Club	Juventus Track Club
Achievements and titles
World finals	2013 800 m, 5th 2017 800 m,  Bronze 2019 800 m,  Bronze 2022 800 m, 8th
Personal best(s)	400 m: 53.63 (Chester 2014) 600 m: 1:22.39 ABP (Berlin 2017) 800 m: 1:55.61 (Monaco 2017) 1500 m: 4:05.18 (Swarthmore 2018) Indoors 800 m: 1:58.29i AR (New York 2020)
Medal record Women's track and field Representing the  United States World Championships 2017 London 800 m 2019 Doha 800 m World Indoor Championships 2022 Belgrade 800 m 2016 Portland 800 m 2018 Birmingham 800 m World Relays 2014 Nassau 4×800 m relay 2015 Nassau Distance medley Diamond League 2019 800 m Continental Cup 2014 Marrakech 800 m 2018 Ostrava 800 m World Junior Championships 2012 Barcelona 800 m World Youth Championships 2011 Lille 800 m NACAC Championships in Athletics 2018 Toronto 800 m 2022 Freeport 800 m

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

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

2013

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

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

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

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

Wilson won the New York Road Runners Armory Invitational in New York, New York 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

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 4x800m 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), Ajee' 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

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

Major competition record

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

•   Diamond League champion 800 metres: 2019^[18]
  • 2014 (2) (800 m): London Grand Prix in Glasgow, Monaco Herculis
  • 2015 (1) (800 m): New York Grand Prix
  • 2019 (4) (800 m): Stockholm Bauhaus-galan, Monaco Herculis, Birmingham Grand Prix, Brussels Memorial Van Damme
  • 2022 (1) (800 m): Kamila Skolimowska Memorial
• World Continental Tour Gold level
  • 2022 (1) (800 m): USATF Bermuda Games

National Championships

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	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

	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, 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

1. "Ajee Wilson". Team USA. 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. from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
3. Barker, Sarah. "America's 800-Meter Savior Has Finally Arrived" 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. from the original on May 3, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
5. "USA Track & Field – Ajeé Wilson". Usatf.org. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
6. "USA Track & Field – Athlete Spotlight: Ajeé Wilson". Usatf.org. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
7. "Why Ajee' Wilson is a winner | Spikes powered by IAAF". Spikes.iaaf.org. July 7, 2014. 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. . The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
15. . 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". 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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 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 December 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
27. 2013 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships results 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 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 August 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Usatf.org, Retrieved on October 22, 2015
32. . 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 October 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on October 22, 2015
34. 2017 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Results October 19, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on September 11, 2017
35. 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results December 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on June 27, 2017
36. 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Results December 19, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on June 28, 2018
37. 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results December 19, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. USATF.org, Retrieved on June 28, 2018

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ajee Wilson.

• Ajeé Wilson at World Athletics  
• Ajeé Wilson at Diamond League  
• Ajeé Wilson at www.USATF.org
• Ajeé Wilson at legacy.USATF.org
• Ajeé Wilson at TeamUSA.org  
• Ajeé Wilson at Olympics.com
• at OlympicChannel.com (archived)
• at Olympic.org (archived)
• Ajeé Wilson at Olympedia  
• Ajeé Wilson at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)  

Awards
Preceded by Trevor Barron	USA Track & Field Youth Athlete of the Year 2011	Succeeded by Sydney Holden